Eliava Institute

What Eliava Institute does

The George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology is a Georgian state-owned research institute founded in 1923 in Tbilisi by George Eliava and Felix d'Herelle, the co-discoverer of bacteriophages. Its core asset is one of the world's largest phage collections — more than 1,000 bacteriophage preparations and 12,000+ bacterial strains spanning 44 genera — built continuously over a century. The institute operates a 'one window' service model that integrates diagnostic testing, personalized phage formulation, and clinical treatment in a single facility, delivered through the Eliava Consortium of five affiliated entities: the institute itself, BioPreparations (industrial production), the Phage Therapy Center (clinical treatment), the Diagnostic Center (ISO 9001:2015 certified laboratory), and the Authorized Pharmacy.

The institute monetizes across four revenue streams: (1) sales of six commercial phage preparations (Pyophage, Intesti, Fersis, Ses, Enko, Staphylococcal bacteriophages) through the Authorized Pharmacy and nationwide chains Pharmadepo and Gepsi; (2) clinical phage therapy for both Georgian and international patients, served via in-person consultations and a telemedicine/specimen-shipping workflow facilitated by medical-tourism partner Caucasus Healing; (3) ISO-certified diagnostic services including pathogen identification and phage susceptibility testing; and (4) educational programs anchored by the EACCME-accredited ESCMID postgraduate course and the annual International Eliava Summer School. Customer segments span individual patients with antibiotic-resistant infections (cystic fibrosis, chronic UTIs, surgical wounds), medical professionals seeking phage therapy training, domestic retail pharmacy buyers, and referring healthcare institutions.

Geographically, the institute serves Georgia as its core market and attracts international patients from France, the USA, Belgium, China, Japan, and elsewhere. It is currently expanding its European institutional footprint via the Horizon Europe ASCLEPIUS Twinning coordinator role, WHO EURO engagement, and partnerships with INRAE, TU Delft, Walter Reed, the US CDC, and the French/German diplomatic missions. Headcount is approximately 101-250, with about 60 researchers and up to 20 physicians at the Phage Therapy Center. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Eliava Institute

Legal name

George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology

Website

https://eliava-institute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The George Eliava Institute, founded in 1923 in Tbilisi, Georgia, is a state-owned research institute operating one of the world's largest bacteriophage collections (1,000+ phages, 12,000+ strains). It delivers integrated phage therapy, diagnostics, commercial phage preparations, and accredited international training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bacteriophage Therapy and Research Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbiology & Infectious Disease Diagnostics (Culture/ID/AST) (HLAHAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infectious Disease & Antimicrobials Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAG), Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing Laboratories (HLAFAMAD), General Infectious Disease (HLAKAGAA)

Keywords

• Bacteriophage therapy
• Phage research
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Diagnostic laboratory services
• Biopharmaceutical preparations

Headquarters

HQ city

Tbilisi

HQ country

Georgia

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Phage Preparation Sales: Six commercial phage preparations (Pyophage, Intesti, Fersis, Ses, Enko, and Staphylococcal bacteriophages) sold through the Eliaava Authorized Pharmacy and pharmacy chains Pharmadepo and Gepsi across Georgia.
2. Diagnostic Services: Bacteriological, virological, immunological, serological, biochemical, molecular, and general clinical testing provided at the Eliava Diagnostic Center. ISO 9001:2015 certified.
3. Phage Therapy Treatment: Clinical phage therapy services at the Eliava Phage Therapy Center, including physician consultations, personalized treatment protocols, and ongoing patient monitoring for both Georgian and international patients.
4. Educational Programs: International training courses and summer schools in phage therapy for medical professionals and researchers. The ESCMID-accredited postgraduate course (May 2026) brought together 47 participants from 26 countries.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The George Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology is a state research institute conducting bacteriophage research, isolation, and preparation, and providing clinical phage therapy, diagnostic laboratory services, and pharmaceutical bacteriophage products. Through the Eliava Consortium, it operates a 'one window' model integrating diagnostics, personalized phage preparation, clinical treatment, and pharmacy dispensing under one roof, serving both Georgian and international patients with antibiotic-resistant infections.

Product overview

The Eliava Institute operates as a research institution within the Eliava Consortium, which provides a one-window principle integrating diagnostic, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical services. The consortium's product portfolio includes six serial bacteriophage preparations (Pyobacteriophage/Intesti/Staphylococcal/Ses/Enko/Fersis bacteriophages) produced by the Eliava Biopreparations company, available through the Eliava Authorized Pharmacy. The Eliava Diagnostic Center provides laboratory testing and phage susceptibility analysis, feeding into the Eliava Phage Therapy Center, which delivers clinical phage treatment with individualized personalized phage formulations. The institute's foundational asset is its national bacteriophage and bacterial strain collection of over 1000 phages and 12,000 bacterial strains spanning 44 genera.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Eliava Consortium: Network of related organizations including the Institute, Foundation, BioPreparations, Phage Therapy Center, Diagnostic Center, and Pharmacy operating under shared mission

Products and services

• Pyobacteriophage (Pio)

Quantifiable outcome

• Effective against MRSA, ESBL-producing bacteria, CRE, VRE — pathogens classified as global public health crises by WHO
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement), FranceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Dr. Marie-Agnès Petit and Dr. Quentin Nougier from INRAE France led a specialized workshop on protein function prediction and phage genome annotation using Pharokka, Phold, and Galaxy platforms at the 4th International Eliava Summer School.
• Tbilisi State Medical UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2026Joint organizers of the ESCMID-accredited postgraduate course 'Bacteriophage Therapy and Phage-derived Proteins: Dual Strategies Against Antimicrobial Resistance and for Diagnostic Innovation' (May 10-13, 2026). The institute hosted theoretical and practical seminars while the university provided venue and accreditation. Rector Professor Irakli Natroshvili opened the course.
• WHO EURO and Global AMR R&D HubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2024The institute participated in an international event organized by WHO EURO and the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Development Hub, positioning Georgian phage expertise within global AMR policy frameworks.
• British Scientific DelegationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2024A British scientific delegation visited the institute, indicating bilateral research interest and potential scientific collaboration in phage research.
• Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2024A delegation from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research visited the institute, reflecting interest in phage applications for military medicine and wound care.
• European Commission — Horizon Europe Twinning Project ASCLEPIUScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The institute coordinates the ASCLEPIUS project, a Horizon Europe Twinning initiative that aims to enhance research excellence through partnership with leading European institutions in phage therapy and AMR.
• Eliava Phage Therapy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Clinical treatment facility established in 2010 jointly by the G. Eliava Institute and David Tvildiani Medical University. Provides phage therapy services with up to 20 physicians, serving both Georgian and international patients.
• ESCMID (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESCMID supported the May 2026 postgraduate phage therapy course and provides international accreditation (EACCME) for the institute's educational programs, lending scientific credibility and international visibility.
• Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), NetherlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung researcher Elisabed Zaldastanishvili was selected for a three-month research visit to the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Delft University of Technology, representing staff exchange and research collaboration.
• French Parliament's Science Office (Office Parlementaire Scientifique)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Deputy Chair of the French Parliament's Science Office visited the institute, indicating high-level governmental interest in phage science and potential policy collaboration.
• Ambassador of France to GeorgiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Ambassador Sheraz Gasri visited the institute, demonstrating diplomatic support for Franco-Georgian scientific cooperation in phage research.
• Ambassador of Germany to Georgia (Ernst Peter Fischer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Ambassador visited the institute, reflecting growing European interest in phage science and potential bilateral collaboration.
• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA high-level CDC delegation visited the institute, indicating US government health agency interest in alternative antimicrobial strategies.
• Ministry of Health of GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Georgian Minister of Health visited the institute, reflecting governmental recognition and support for the institute's role in addressing antimicrobial resistance.
• Tbilisi City Council Healthcare CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chair and members of the Tbilisi City Council Commission on Healthcare and Social Issues visited the institute and Phage Therapy Center, underscoring local governmental recognition of the institute's national importance.
• EU Horizon 2020 — Phage Research ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project studying phages' role in asthma, involving scientists from 6 countries. Nino Chanisvili manages the Georgian side of this multi-national phage research initiative.
• Eliava BioPreparations (phage.ge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Eliava Consortium, this company handles industrial-scale production of phage preparations based on the institute's research.
• Eliava Diagnostic Center (bacteriophage.ge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiagnostic laboratory within the Eliava Consortium providing bacteriological, virological, immunological, serological, and molecular testing services. ISO 9001:2015 certified.
• Eliava FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit 'Association for Development of Bacteriophages in Georgia' established by institute scientists. Its goal is sustainable development of the institute and popularization of bacteriophages. Parent organization of the Eliava Consortium.
• Caucasus Healing Medical Tourism AgencyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedical tourism agency founded by French-Georgian couple Alain Lavit and Irma Jejeia, facilitating international patients (primarily French) seeking phage therapy at the institute since 2016.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Adaptive Phage Therapeutics: US-based clinical-stage phage therapy company developing personalized phage treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections; directly comparable to Eliava's personalized phage preparation model and patient-driven approach.
• Armata Pharmaceuticals: US clinical-stage biotech developing phage-based therapeutics for antibiotic-resistant infections including Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients; closely comparable in therapeutic focus and AMR positioning.
• TechnoPhage: Portuguese phage biotech developing phage-based products for bacterial infections; closely comparable as a European-based clinical phage research company with academic and commercial integration.
• Locus Biosciences: US clinical-stage biotech developing engineered phage products (crPhage platform) for antibiotic-resistant infections including UTIs; comparable in clinical-stage phage therapeutic development targeting the same AMR pathogens.
• Pherecydes Pharma: French phage therapy company developing anti-Staphylococcus aureus and anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage products; directly comparable to Eliava's personalized phage cocktails and AMR focus, with overlapping French patient base.
• Intralytix: US phage-based product company with the FDA-cleared food safety phage products (ListShield, EcoShield) and clinical pipeline targeting human bacterial infections; comparable in phage library approach and commercial production.

Emerging players

• ContraFect Corporation: US biotech developing lysins and other phage-derived enzymes for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections; comparable in the broader phage-derived antimicrobial space targeting the same pathogens Eliava addresses.
• Fixed Phage: UK-based phage technology company developing immobilized phages for various applications; partially comparable in phage technology platform approach, though more focused on industrial/animal health than human therapeutics.
• Eligo Bioscience: French biotech developing phage-derived precision antimicrobials (eligobiotics) for microbiome engineering and AMR; comparable as European AMR-focused phage platform, but with a synthetic biology approach rather than natural phages.

Regional players

• BioComo: Japanese biotech producing phage-based therapeutics and diagnostics with a long history similar to Eliava; comparable as an established regional phage player, particularly relevant given Eliava's BioJapan exhibition participation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=LQr8or4z81w
• Facebookfacebook.com/eliavaconsortium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/g--eliava-institute-of-bacteriophages-microbiology-and-virology

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Eliava Institute