What PhagePro does

PhagePro is a preclinical Boston-based biotechnology company developing bacteriophage-based therapeutics as an alternative to antibiotics for bacterial infections, with a lead program called ProphaLytic-Vc (PVC) targeting cholera. The company's technology exploits phages — naturally occurring viruses that specifically infect and replicate within bacteria — to self-amplify at the site of infection and co-evolve with bacterial resistance, addressing the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis where conventional antibiotics are losing efficacy. PhagePro emphasizes the specificity of phages relative to broad-spectrum antibiotics, claiming less collateral damage to beneficial microbiota.

The company is structured as PhagePro, P.B.C. (a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation) and was spun out of the Camilli Lab at Tufts University, where Professor Andrew Camilli has studied cholera for over 20 years. Core intellectual property sits under an exclusive licensing agreement with Tufts University signed in February 2023, anchored by proof-of-concept work initiated by CEO Dr. Minmin Yen during her microbiology PhD. The team is small (1–10 employees) and includes Principal Scientist Dr. Kiho Lee plus an advisory board spanning phage product development, marketing, and business development.

Commercially, PhagePro has not yet established revenue. Its revenue model is positioned around future licensing and royalties rather than direct product sales, and pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company targets low- and middle-income country populations and global health institutions, with strategic research partnerships with icddr,b in Bangladesh, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), and serão. Capital to date has come exclusively from non-dilutive sources — approximately $3.4 million cumulative across an NIH grant ($3M, 2021), Massachusetts Life Sciences Center award ($87.5K, 2019), and two MassVentures START Phase I Grants ($100K in 2024 and $200K in 2025) — supplemented by ecosystem awards such as the LabCentral Ignite Golden Ticket and REVIVE Expert designation for the CEO.

Name

PhagePro

Legal name

PhagePro, P.B.C.

Website

https://phageproinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PhagePro is a preclinical Boston-based biotechnology company developing bacteriophage-based therapeutics, with its lead program ProphaLytic-Vc targeting cholera prevention and treatment for low- and middle-income country populations as an alternative to failing antibiotics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Phage-Based Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Phage & Phage-Derived Microbiome Modulators (HLAAAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infectious Disease & Antimicrobials Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAG), Global Health Security & Pandemic Preparedness Partnerships (HLAJAOAH)

Keywords

• Phage therapeutics
• Bacteriophage treatments
• Antimicrobial resistance solutions
• Cholera prevention therapy
• Biotech therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Phage-based Therapeutic Products: Preclinical development stage - the company is developing phage-based solutions to reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance in emerging markets. Revenue model not yet established or disclosed as the company is in preclinical development phase.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PhagePro develops phage-based therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections, with its lead program ProphaLytic-Vc (PVC) focused on cholera. The company's products use bacteriophages that specifically attach to and replicate within target bacteria, self-amplifying at the infection site and naturally evolving with bacterial populations to overcome resistance. The pipeline is designed for populations in low- and middle-income countries that bear the greatest burden of antimicrobial resistance and limited access to effective antibiotics.

Product overview

PhagePro is a preclinical Boston-based biotech startup developing phage-based solutions to reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance in emerging markets. The company's lead product is ProphaLytic-Vc (PVC), a phage-based treatment for cholera. PhagePro's approach involves using bacteriophages—natural predators of bacteria—as an alternative to antibiotics. The company is spin-out from the Camilli Lab at Tufts University and focuses on designing products for low- and middle-income countries with an emphasis on stakeholder relationships and contextualized development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ProphaLytic-Vc (PVC) Phage-based therapeutic product targeting cholera, in preclinical development. Uses bacteriophages that self-replicate at the infection site and can co-evolve with bacteria to overcome antibiotic resistance. Being developed for populations in low- and middle-income countries with high cholera burden.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phages continue to make more of themselves and kill more bacteria until infection is eliminated
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Tufts UniversitycoreTechnology or Integration · 8 February 2023Exclusive licensing agreement with Tufts University for phage-based cholera treatment technology. The technology was developed in the Camilli Lab at Tufts, where Professor Andrew Camilli has studied cholera for over 20 years. Dr. Minmin Yen initiated proof-of-concept experiments for ProphaLytic-Vc as a microbiology PhD student in the Camilli Lab.
• icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization. icddr,b is an international health research institute focused on diarrheal disease research in Bangladesh, a country with high cholera burden. Partnership supports development of context-appropriate solutions for emerging markets.
• WRAIR (Walter Reed Army Institute of Research)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization. WRAIR is a U.S. Department of Defense medical research center. Partnership provides research collaboration and development support for phage-based therapeutics.
• seránsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization. Collaboration supports development and commercialization efforts for phage-based solutions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Adaptive Phage Therapeutics: U.S. clinical-stage biotech developing phage-based therapeutics for bacterial infections. Closest direct peer to PhagePro, operating in the same modality (phage therapy) and the same indication space (AMR-driven bacterial diseases), though with broader pipeline and more advanced clinical stage.
• Armata Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage phage therapeutics company developing both natural and engineered phage products against resistant bacterial infections, including respiratory and bloodstream indications. Directly comparable to PhagePro in modality, scientific approach, and AMR focus.
• BiomX: Israel-based clinical-stage company developing phage-based therapeutics for chronic and acute bacterial infections, including inflammatory bowel disease and atopic dermatitis. Shares PhagePro's core modality (phage therapy) and AMR orientation, with comparable small-cap biotech profile.
• Locus Biosciences: U.S. clinical-stage biotech developing engineered phage (crPhage) therapeutics that combine phage delivery with CRISPR payloads to kill resistant bacteria. Directly comparable to PhagePro in modality and AMR target, with a more engineered/synthetic-biology approach.
• Intralytix: U.S.-based phage products company with FDA-approved phage-based food safety applications and clinical-stage human therapeutic programs. Comparable to PhagePro in modality and AMR positioning, with a longer operating history and existing commercial product lines.
• Eligo Bioscience: France-based biotech developing engineered phage-derived products (eligens) for precision microbiome editing and bacterial infection treatment. Comparable to PhagePro in modality (phage-derived therapeutics) and AMR focus, with a more synthetic-biology orientation.
• Pherecydes Pharma: France-based clinical-stage biotech developing natural phage cocktails against resistant bacterial infections (bone-and-joint, skin, lung). Direct peer in modality and AMR focus, with overlapping indication areas and comparable scale.
• iNtRON Biotechnology: Korea-based clinical-stage biotech developing phage-derived endolysin and phage therapies for resistant infections, with both human and animal health programs. Comparable to PhagePro in modality and AMR positioning, though at a later stage and with broader product coverage.
• Technophage: Portugal-based clinical-stage biotech developing engineered phage products for bacterial infections and ocular diseases. Comparable to PhagePro in modality, therapeutic focus, and small/mid-cap biotech scale.

Broad incumbents

• ContraFect: U.S. clinical-stage anti-infectives company developing direct lytic agents (lysins) and other novel modalities against resistant bacteria. Broadly comparable to PhagePro in AMR focus and small-cap biotech profile, though operating in an adjacent (lysin) rather than identical (phage) modality.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PhagePro