Proteon Pharmaceuticals

Bacteriophage therapeutics · Salmonella (poultry), aquaculture

MarketVC-backed (private)Łódź

Focus / modality

Bacteriophage therapeutics

Lead asset

BAFASAL · BAFADOR

Type

Veterinary / Phage

Indication

Salmonella (poultry), aquaculture

Stage

Market

Łódź

Capital tier

VC-backed (private)

Backing

Overview

Precision bacteriophage products replacing antibiotics in animal production (BAFASAL for poultry salmonella, BAFADOR for fish) — a Polish leader in applied phage biology.

What they do

Proteon Pharmaceuticals is a Polish biotech and a leader in applied bacteriophage biology, developing precision phage products that reduce reliance on antibiotics in animal production. Its lead products are BAFASAL, targeting Salmonella in poultry, and BAFADOR, a phage cocktail against Pseudomonas and Aeromonas infections in farmed fish (aquaculture).

Lead program & status

BAFASAL is a liquid feed additive built from four strictly virulent bacteriophages, designed to reduce Salmonella Enteritidis and Typhimurium and administered via drinking water or liquid feed across poultry species. After a process Proteon reportedly began in 2017, the EU EFSA issued a supporting opinion in December 2024, EU member states voted in favour in May 2025, and BAFASAL received full EU authorization as a zootechnical feed additive, with the regulation published in the Official Journal on 15 July 2025 and entering into force on 5 August 2025 - reportedly the first bacteriophage-based zootechnical feed additive approved in the EU. BAFADOR targets aquaculture and also acts as a fish immune stimulant.

Why it matters

By replacing antibiotics with targeted phages, Proteon addresses antimicrobial resistance and food-safety pressures, offering a regulatory-validated tool for sustainable animal farming.

FAQ

What is BAFASAL?: A bacteriophage-based liquid feed additive that reduces Salmonella in poultry; it received full EU authorization as a zootechnical feed additive in 2025, reportedly the first of its kind in the EU.
What is BAFADOR used for?: BAFADOR is a bacteriophage cocktail against Pseudomonas and Aeromonas infections in commercial aquaculture, and it also stimulates the immune system of fish.
Why use bacteriophages instead of antibiotics?: Phages target specific bacteria precisely, helping reduce antibiotic use in animal production and addressing antimicrobial resistance and food-safety concerns.

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