Bacteriophage Market

Global Bacteriophage Market Size (2023 to 2028)

The global bacteriophage market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.47% during the forecast period. As a result, the global revenue is estimated to reach USD 64.92 million by 2028 from USD 52.17 million in 2023.

Impact of COVID-19 on the global bacteriophage market:

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a mixed impact on the bacteriophage market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of bacteriophage therapies has increased as these are effective solutions to treat bacterial infections in situations where antibiotics failed to do an effective job. Due to this, several research organizations have accelerated their R&D efforts and increased funding for the clinical trials for the development of bacteriophage therapies. This has favored the market and contributed to the market growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has also shown an unfavorable impact on the bacteriophage market growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global supply chains were damaged significantly and this has created complexity in obtaining and distributing bacteriophage products. In addition, some of the bacteriophage market participants have shifted their resources and attention towards the development of the COVID-19 vaccine and given less priority to the R&D of bacteriophage products and this has affected the market growth negatively. Likewise, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown a mixed impact on the bacteriophage market. However, the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on market is expected to be positive due to the increasing need for alternative treatments for bacterial infections.

MARKET DRIVERS:

The rising incidence of bacterial infections, especially in developing countries is one of the key factors propelling the bacteriophage market growth. Poor sanitation and hygiene habits in developing countries especially in rural areas, particularly in areas where access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities is limited are resulting in the spread of bacterial infections. Due to the high costs associated with antibiotics, the accessibility to antibiotics is being limited in developing countries which is leading to the increasing demand for cost-effective bacterial therapies. The population among developing countries is growing rapidly and at the same rate, the spread of infections is also increasing, which is contributing to the increasing need for bacteriophage therapies. Some developing countries are lacking with the required public health infrastructure which is required to prevent and control the spread of bacterial infections. These factors have been contributing to the increasing prevalence of bacterial infections among developing countries and eventually leading to the growing demand for bacteriophage therapies and boosting market growth.

The growing antibiotic resistance is resulting in the increasing need for cost-effective alternative treatments for bacterial infections favoring the growth of the bacteriophage market. Bacteriophages have shown promising results in treating bacterial infections and are considered an effective alternative to antibiotics. Technological developments are contributing to the growth of the bacteriophage market. Due to the recent technological advancements in biotechnology and genetic engineering, the development of isolating and formulating bacteriophage products has become easier and this has resulted in the development of bacteriophage therapies that are efficient and effective. The growing investments from governmental and non-governmental organizations for the R&D of efficient and effective bacteriophage therapies promote market growth. The supportive regulatory environment and favorable reimbursement policies for bacteriophage therapies support the market’s growth rate.

Furthermore, factors such as the growing usage of bacteriophage therapies in animal health products to combat bacterial infections in livestock and poultry, increasing adoption of bacteriophage therapies in the food industry to control bacterial contamination in food products, rising adoption of bacteriophage therapies in personalized medicine and wound care boost the growth rate of the market.

MARKET RESTRAINTS:

The lack of clear regulatory guidelines for the use of bacteriophage therapies is hampering the growth rate of the overall market. Due to these unclear regulatory guidelines, the development of commercialization of bacteriophage products is hindered. Poor awareness and understanding of the potential benefits of bacteriophage products among patients and healthcare professionals is another significant obstacle to market growth. The lack of substantial evidence of the safety and efficacy of bacteriophage therapies and limited clinical data are limiting the adoption of bacteriophage therapies and further limiting the market’s growth rate. The complexity and expensiveness associated with the manufacturing of bacteriophage therapies, competition from antibiotics and lack of favorable reimbursement policies for bacteriophage therapies further inhibit the growth rate of the market.

REPORT COVERAGE:

This market research report on the global bacteriophage market has been segmented and sub-segmented into the following categories.

Global Bacteriophage Market - By Product:

• Phage Therapeutics
• Phage Probiotics

Based on product, the phage probiotics segment had the leading share of the global bacteriophage market in 2022 and is anticipated to register a notable CAGR during the forecast period. The growing awareness among people regarding the importance of gut health, rising adoption of natural and non-invasive therapies, increasing research into the gut microbiome and the role of bacteria in human health and growing adoption of personalized medicine majorly drive the segmental growth.

The phage therapeutics segment had a considerable share of the worldwide market in 2022 and is predicted to grow promisingly during the forecast period. The rising prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, growing investments for the development of new and effective phage therapeutics and the cost-effectiveness of phage therapeutics compared to traditional antibiotics propel the segmental growth.

Global Bacteriophage Market - By Route of Administration:

• Topical
• Oral
• Others

Based on the route of administration, the oral segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. The segmental growth is majorly driven by factors such as the convenience of oral administration and benefits of oral administration such as improved patient compliance and facilitating widespread adoption of phage therapies. Oral administration is effective and beneficial in treating systemic infections or infections that are difficult to reach with topical administration, which is another key factor contributing to segmental growth. The effectiveness of oral administration in the efficacy in treating gut infections boosts the growth rate of the segment.

The topical segment is estimated to hold a substantial share of the worldwide market during the forecast period owing to factors such as the effectiveness of topical administration in treating localized infections such as skin infections or wound infections and rising demand for non-antibiotic treatments.

Global Bacteriophage Market - By Application:

• Wound prophylaxis
• Gastroenterology
• Respiratory infections
• Skin infection treatment
• Urogenital infection treatment
• Others

Based on application, the gastroenterology segment accounted for the leading share of the worldwide market in 2022 and is expected to hold a notable share of the market during the forecast period. The segmental growth is primarily driven by factors such as the growing demand for products that promote gut health such as bacteriophages, the rising prevalence of gut infections, such as Clostridium difficile infections and inflammatory bowel disease and the effectiveness of bacteriophages in treating gut infections.

Segments such as wound prophylaxis and respiratory infections are anticipated to have a moderate CAGR during the forecast period. The growing prevalence of wound infections and respiratory tract infections and the effectiveness of bacteriophages in treating these infections are majorly driving segmental growth.

Segments such as skin infection treatment and urogenital infection treatment are predicted to showcase a sluggish CAGR during the forecast period.

Global Bacteriophage Market - By Distribution Channels:

• Retail Pharmacies
• Online Pharmacies
• Hospital Pharmacies

The retail pharmacies segment had the leading share of the global market in 2022 and is expected to register a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. The segmental growth is primarily driven by factors such as a strong distribution network of retail pharmacies and increasing availability of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in retail pharmacies, including bacteriophages. Rising incidences of antibiotic-resistant infections, increasing demand for personalized medicine, and growing awareness among healthcare professionals about the effectiveness of bacteriophages further boost the growth rate of the segment.

On the other hand, the online pharmacies segment had the second-largest share of the worldwide market in 2022 and is predicted to witness the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Factors such as convenience and accessibility that online pharmacies offer to consumers, the availability of a wide range of products, including bacteriophages, at competitive prices, increasing penetration of the internet and rising demand for e-commerce platforms promote the segmental growth.

Global Bacteriophage Market - By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

The North American region had the largest share of the global market in 2022 and the regional domination is anticipated to continue throughout the forecast period owing to factors such as the growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infections and the growing demand for novel therapies. In addition, factors such as the well-established healthcare infrastructure and the presence of key market players in the region and the presence of research and development activities and clinical trials focused on bacteriophages boost the growth rate of the North American market. Furthermore, strong government support for the development and commercialization of bacteriophage-based therapies, the rising number of collaborations between academic research institutions and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate the development of bacteriophage-based therapies and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer fuel the growth rate of the North American market. The U.S. held the leading share of the North American market in 2022, followed by Canada and is predicted to continue the same trend throughout the forecast period.

Europe is a potential regional market for bacteriophages and is expected to account for a substantial share of the global market during the forecast period. Factors such as the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infections such as tuberculosis and pneumonia and the growing demand for personalized medicine primarily drive regional market growth. The presence of well-established healthcare infrastructure and the presence of key market players in Europe and the rising emphasis on personalized medicine and the use of bacteriophages in combination with antibiotics further promote the European market growth. The rising adoption of digital healthcare technologies and telemedicine and rising investments in research and development activities focused on bacteriophages, particularly in countries such as India, China, and Japan contribute to the European market growth.

APAC is predicted to register the highest CAGR in the worldwide market during the forecast period owing to the growing burden of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, and typhoid fever, the rising demand for novel therapies and increasing investments for R&D activities focused on bacteriophages and the presence of key market players in the region. Countries of Southeast Asia are anticipated to hold the major share of the APAC market during the forecast period.

Latin America had a considerable share of the worldwide market in 2022 and is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the Latin American market is majorly driven by the rising awareness of the potential of bacteriophages in the treatment of infectious diseases, the growing number of collaborations between local pharmaceutical companies and international research institutions to accelerate the development of bacteriophage-based therapies, strong government support for the development of the biotechnology industry.

MEA accounted for a moderate share of the worldwide market in 2022 and is predicted to grow steadily during the forecast period.

KEY MARKET PLAYERS:

There are several key market players in the global bacteriophage market. Here are a few of the most critical candidates, Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Locus Biosciences, Inc., PhagePro, Inc., Eligo Bioscience SA, Phagomed Biopharma GmbH, Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eliava Biopreparations Ltd., Pherecydes Pharma, Intralytix, Inc., Phagelux, Inc., Nextbiotics, InnoPhage, Ltd., TechnoPhage, Locus Biosciences, Inc. Enbiotix Inc., Intodeworld Inc., BiomX Ltd., Phi Therapeutics, Fixed-phage Ltd., Micreos BV, ContraFect Corp., and OPTIPHARM Co., Ltd.