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Targeting Phage Therapy 2025 marked a decisive moment for the field of phage therapy. What was once viewed mainly as an experimental or compassionate use approach has clearly entered a new phase, one defined by clinical structuring, regulatory engagement, and growing industrial readiness.
Over two days in Berlin, the conference brought together clinicians, researchers, regulators, and industry leaders from around the world. A clear and shared message emerged throughout the meeting: phage therapy is no longer just a scientific promise. It is becoming a clinical necessity.
The program highlighted tangible progress in human clinical trials, including applications in cystic fibrosis, burn wounds, cardiothoracic surgery related infections, and multidrug resistant pathogens. Participants also shared major advances in delivery technologies, ranging from inhaled formulations to hydrogels and biohybrid systems. Discussions reflected a growing maturity in GMP production, with concrete examples of hospital-based manufacturing pipelines and improved quality control strategies.
There was also an unprecedented focus on regulatory frameworks, national guidelines, and the need for European harmonization. Importantly, the scope of phage therapy was shown to extend well beyond human medicine, with expanding applications in veterinary health, agriculture, food safety, and industry.
Throughout the discussions, it became clear that the future of phage therapy will depend on collaboration rather than fragmentation. Progress will require stronger bridges between hospitals and industry, between regulators and innovators, and between microbiology and clinical medicine.
The final panel highlighted several critical priorities for the coming years. These include scaling access to phage therapy while maintaining safety and quality, structuring personalized phage approaches within clear regulatory pathways, building shared infrastructures such as phage banks and clinical networks, and strengthening dialogue across science, medicine, and industry.
Targeting Phage Therapy 2025 did not close a chapter. It opened a new one.
With this momentum, the community now looks ahead to 2026 with a shared ambition: to move phage therapy from pioneering cases to structured, accessible, and impactful solutions for health and industry.
Award Recipients Recognized for Innovation and Excellence
The conference recognized outstanding contributions to the field:
- Poster Presentation Award: Peter Braun and Leonie Reetz (Fraunhofer ITMP, Germany)
- Poster Presentation Award: Viviane de Cássia Oliveira
- Poster Presentation Award: Miriam Waizer (University of Regensburg, Germany)
- Short Oral Award: Anthony Vocat
- Best Innovation Award: José Luis Bila(Precise Health SA, Switzerland)
The 9th Annual Meeting will be held in Valencia, Spain on June 11-12, 2016. See you soon!