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June 2025
The global bacteriophage market size is calculated at USD 55.35 million in 2024, grew to USD 60 million in 2025, and is projected to reach around USD 124.09 million by 2034. The market is expanding at a CAGR of 8.44% between 2025 and 2034.
The bacteriophage market is mainly driven by the rising prevalence of infectious diseases and the increasing risk of antimicrobial resistance. Several researchers are developing novel drug delivery systems to deliver bacteriophages into the human body. The future looks promising, with growing research and development activities aimed at assessing the action of bacteriophages against a wide range of infectious diseases and expanding their role in healthcare.
| Metric | Details |
| Market Size in 2025 | USD 60 Million |
| Projected Market Size in 2034 | USD 124.09 Million |
| CAGR (2025 - 2034) | 8.44% |
| Leading Region | North America |
| Market Segmentation | By Product Type, By Route of Administration, By Application, By Distribution Channel, By Region |
| Top Key Players | Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Inc., Armata Pharmaceuticals, Cytophage Technologies, Ltd., Qeen Biotechnologies, Inc., Eligo Bioscience S.A.S., Intralytix, JAFRAL, Locus Biosciences, NexaBiome Ltd., Phage Consultants, PHAXIAM Therapeutics, SNIPR Biome, Technophage SA |
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate only in bacterial cells. They are ubiquitous and mainly infect the host bacterium by the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle. They are emerging as an alternative to treat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans. Only lytic phages are used for therapeutic purposes as they can infect and destroy bacteria, preventing the spread of ongoing infection. They are used in combination with certain antibiotics to enhance therapeutic efficiency.
The major growth factors of the market include the rising prevalence of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. The growing research and development activities to study the nature of bacteriophages boost the market. Recent advancements in molecular biology and genetic engineering have significantly contributed to the generation of phage-related products with superior therapeutic action.
Artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionize the research and development of bacteriophages. AI can introduce automation in bioinformatics analysis of phage characteristics and discovery. It can help researchers understand the phage-host specificity determinants and predict the nature of phage on the host. AI can also enable researchers to edit their genomic sequences, modifying their activity based on the type of bacteria. Bacteriophages can be modified after they become resistant to bacteria. AI can reduce the cost of phage research and efficiency of R&D processes.
Increasing Incidence of AMR
The major growth factor of the bacteriophage market is the increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The rising prevalence of infectious diseases and the growing misuse of antibiotics are the major risk factors for developing AMR. According to a recent study published in Environmental Sciences, antibiotic consumption in 67 countries increased 16.3% from 29.5 to 34.3 billion defined daily doses (DDDs) from 2016 to 2023. The authors anticipated that antibiotic consumption would increase by 52.3% from 49.3 billion in 2023 to 75.1 billion DDDs.(Source - PNAS)
Issues with Host-Specificity
Bacteriophages are used for the treatment of all bacterial infections, i.e., they do not show broad-spectrum activity. Bacteria can even develop resistance to bacteriophages. Thus, bacteriophages cannot be universally used for all bacterial infections, restricting market growth.
What is the Future of the Bacteriophage Market?
The market future is promising, driven by growing research and development activities and an increasing number of clinical trials. Ongoing efforts are made to find extended applications of bacteriophages other than their use in AMR. Bacteriophages have been developed to suppress viruses, for gene therapy, and for vaccine development. Novel drug delivery systems are also being developed to administer phages effectively. The clinicaltrial.gov website contains a record of 96 bacteriophage-related clinical trials as of June 2025. Out of these, 31 are recruiting and active, not recruiting clinical trials.
By product type, the phage therapeutics segment held a dominant presence in the market in 2024. The segment dominated because of the growing demand for personalized medicines and the increasing efforts to determine extended applications of bacteriophages. The increasing prevalence of AMR potentiates the need for bacteriophages as therapeutics. Bacteriophages have emerged as an alternative to antibiotics. Some are even used in combination with antibiotics to cure numerous bacterial infections. Several researchers are developing bacteriophages as therapeutics for diseases or infections that are otherwise not treatable by antibiotics.
By product type, the phage probiotics segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. Bacteriophages are considered an essential component of probiotics that target the pathogenic bacteria and support the natural human microbiota. The gut microbiota protects against pathogens, contributes to energy metabolism, and mediates the immune system. Phage probiotics enhance the efficacy of traditional probiotics, improving gut health and overall well-being.
By route of administration, the oral segment led the global market in 2024. Oral administration is highly preferred due to its ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. The availability of a wide range of oral routes, such as tablets and syrups, enhances the convenience for people of all age groups. Tablets are available as sustained release or immediate release to modify the release of active components, making them suitable for all patients. They are comparatively safer and do not require any trained professional for their administration. In India, around 95% of the total antibiotics consumed in the private sector were oral.
By application, the gastroenterology segment held the largest revenue share of the market in 2024. This is due to the rising prevalence of digestive infectious disorders and the growing demand for gut health. The increasing need to modulate microbial communities, such as gut microbiota, potentiates the use of bacteriophages as an antibacterial therapy. They are widely used to treat cholera, colitis, and Crohn’s disease. From January 2024 to November 2024, a total of 733,956 cholera cases were reported globally. (Source - WHO) The WHO and other government organizations take necessary measures to deal with such diseases and encourage vaccination among the general public.
By distribution channel, the hospital pharmacies segment contributed the biggest revenue share of the market in 2024. The segmental growth is attributed to favorable infrastructure and suitable capital investments. The presence of multidisciplinary, skilled professionals enables patients to prefer hospitals for the treatment of their diseases. Favorable reimbursement policies also augment the segment’s growth. Some hospitals are also part of the clinical trials, allowing patients to access innovative treatments before market approval.
By distribution channel, the online pharmacies segment is expected to grow with the highest CAGR in the market during the studied years. The rapidly expanding e-commerce sector and the increasing adoption of smartphones propel the segment’s growth. Online pharmacies enable patients to order medicines/phage therapeutics in the comfort of their homes, making them suitable for the geriatric population. Online pharmacies provide numerous services, such as free home delivery and virtual consultation with healthcare professionals.
North America dominated the global market in 2024. The availability of state-of-the-art research and development facilities, a robust healthcare infrastructure, and technological advancements are the major growth factors of the market in North America. The rising prevalence of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance potentiate the need for bacteriophages. The increasing investments in research and clinical trials boost the market. Favorable government support and regulatory policies favor the market.
The U.S. government’s Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion launched the “Healthy People 2030” initiative to reduce rates of infectious diseases and improve health for people with chronic infections. (Source - Odphp.health) As of October 2024, 84 clinical trials related to bacteriophages were registered on the clinicaltrials.gov website in the U.S. (Source - Science direct)
In Canada, more than 24 million antimicrobial prescriptions were dispensed by retail pharmacies in 2024. (Source - Health infobase) The Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (CARSS) estimated that if AMR is not addressed, it can cause global economic losses of over $100 trillion by 2050. (Source - Canada) Key players, such as Cytophage Therapeutics and Qeen Biotechnologies, Inc., provide phage-based therapeutics to Canadians.
Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the bacteriophage market during the forecast period. Numerous government organizations launch initiatives to create awareness about the prevention, detection, and treatment of infectious diseases. The burgeoning synthetic biology, molecular biology, and genetic engineering fields favor the development of novel phage therapeutics. The growing research and development activities and increasing AMR incidence promote the market.
The National Action Plan for Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (2022-2025) by the Chinese government aims to eradicate AMR in China by adopting comprehensive management measures at the national level. The action plan also strengthens regulation in all aspects of drug R&D, production, distribution, application, and environmental protection.
AMR is a significant health threat in India, accounting for 600,000 deaths annually. The Indian government bodies collaborate with global bodies to combat AMR. These collaborations include the India-US CDC partnership, the USAID collaboration, the Indo-Netherlands collaboration, the Fleming Fund (UK), and the India-Denmark collaboration.
Europe is expected to grow at a notable CAGR in the bacteriophage market in the foreseeable future. Favorable research infrastructure and the growing demand for personalized medicines augment market growth. European government organizations collaborate with global bodies, including the WHO, to combat AMR in Europe and develop phage-based therapeutics. The WHO reported that AMR is directly responsible for 133,000 deaths annually and indirectly linked to 541,000 deaths in the WHO European region. This costs around €11.7 billion annually to the European Union and European Economic Area. (Source - WHO)
In June 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) released its first-ever guidance in the UK on phage-based medicinal therapies. The guidance aims to assist European developers in navigating regulatory requirements and help manufacturers understand the necessary steps for developing phage therapies. (Source - Geneonline)
Dr. Nancy Tawil, CEO and Co-founder of Qeen Biotechnologies, commented that access to phage therapy is a critical lifeline for patients battling AMR infections. The company is dedicated to ensuring that precision phage therapy is accessible and scalable for widespread adoption. (Source - Innovationnews network)
By Product Type
By Route of Administration
By Application
By Distribution Channel
By Region
June 2025
June 2025
June 2025
June 2025