Key Takeaways:
- Funding Round Success: PhageLab, specializing in bacteriophage-based applications, has raised $11 million from investors, including Nazca, Collaborative Fund, and Water Lemon Ventures, with participation from individual investor Kevin Efrusy.
- Targeting Antibiotic Resistance: The company focuses on developing solutions to tackle the global challenge of antibiotic resistance in the livestock industry, explicitly targeting multidrug-resistant bacteria.
- Expansion and Development: The new funding will enable PhageLab to advance its phage-based solutions, expand its team, and establish a commercial presence in Brazil, with plans to enter the US market.
- Innovative Technology: PhageLab employs a proprietary microbial bioinformatics platform, using AI to create customized bacteriophage treatments to reduce antibiotic dependence in livestock.
- Impact and Future Plans: The company has already developed products like INSPEKTOR for Salmonella in poultry and plans to launch an E. coli product, along with solutions for infectious diarrhea in pigs.
PhageLab, a biotechnology firm, is gaining attention for its innovative approach to developing bacteriophage-based solutions to counter multidrug-resistant bacteria in the livestock industry. The company’s recent achievement of securing $11 million in a funding round marks a significant milestone.
Focus on Antibiotic Resistance
“PhageLab is focused on progressing breakthrough science that provides long-term solutions to today’s global antibiotic resistance challenges,” states the company. The increasing rate of antibiotic-resistant outbreaks in livestock farming emphasizes the need for their work, with 50% of antibiotics in intensive animal farming becoming ineffective since 2019.
Strategic Expansion and Growth
The infusion of new funds will propel PhageLab’s expansion into Brazil, its primary market, and help the company make inroads into the US. Additionally, the funding will support global team expansion, boasting nearly 100 employees across Latin America and Europe.
Cutting-Edge Technology
PhageLab utilizes a unique microbial bioinformatics platform, incorporating AI to produce customized phage cocktails. Based on over a decade of experimentation data, this platform enables the creation of tailored solutions in 45 days, significantly reducing the reliance on antibiotics in livestock.
Investor Confidence
Investors express strong confidence in PhageLab’s mission and technology. Kevin Efrusy highlights the company as a pioneer with rapid development times and lower capital costs. Luisa Sucre from Collaborative Fund and Hector Sepulveda from Nazca also underscore their support for PhageLab’s innovative approach to addressing antibiotic resistance.
Product Development and Services
PhageLab’s product, INSPEKTOR, effectively combats Salmonella in poultry farms. The company is also poised to launch an E. coli product and develop solutions for pig infections. Their services include identifying, detecting, and characterizing microorganisms in livestock production.
Demonstrating Success
PhageLab will present at the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, showcasing the success of its bacteriophage cocktail in reducing Salmonella on poultry farms in Brazil.
About PhageLab
Established in 2010 and headquartered in Santiago, Chile, with offices in Spain and Brazil, PhageLab is dedicated to creating personalized bacteriophage treatments to address global bacterial challenges in the livestock industry.
Image provided by PhageLab
