The 9th World Conference on Targeting Phage Therapy 2026 concluded in Valencia after two days of intense scientific exchange, clinical discussion and strategic reflection on the future of bacteriophage therapy.
This year’s meeting confirmed a clear message: phage therapy is no longer only a scientific promise. It is becoming a clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and industrial reality.
Across the sessions, leading experts discussed the full pathway needed to bring phage therapy closer to patients: phage biology, host–phage interactions, antimicrobial resistance, personalized treatment, compassionate use, GMP production, hospital implementation, regulatory frameworks, phage engineering and industrial innovation.
A major focus of the congress was the transition from isolated clinical cases to structured therapeutic pathways. Several presentations highlighted real-world clinical experience in complex and difficult-to-treat infections, while others addressed the practical barriers that still need to be solved: production capacity, quality control, reimbursement, regulatory harmonization and access through hospital systems.
The congress also emphasized that the future of phage therapy will not depend on a single breakthrough. It will require collaboration between clinicians, microbiologists, pharmacists, engineers, regulatory experts, biotech companies and public health institutions.
The 2026 Awards recognized outstanding contributions to the field, including clinical excellence, implementation, innovation, precision therapy, oral presentation quality and phage engineering. These achievements reflect the maturity and diversity of a field that is moving steadily toward real-world impact.
Targeting Phage Therapy 2026 warmly thanks all invited speakers, oral presenters, poster contributors, chairpersons, scientific board members, participants and supporters for their commitment and active participation.
A special thanks is extended to our supporters, including LXbio Pharmaceuticals and Delta G Avaris, for contributing to the success of this edition.
The key message from Valencia is simple:
The future of phage therapy is not only about finding the right phage. It is about building the right system to deliver the right phage to the right patient at the right time.
We look forward to continuing this important dialogue and to welcoming the phage therapy community again at the next edition of Targeting Phage Therapy.
