PHAXIAM Therapeutics

PHAXIAM Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for severe, antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The company was formed in June 2023 through the strategic merger of two French biotech firms, ERYTECH Pharma and Pherecydes Pharma. ERYTECH, founded in Lyon in 2004, initially centered on developing red blood cell-based therapies for cancer and orphan diseases. Following a setback in a Phase 3 trial for pancreatic cancer, ERYTECH shifted its strategy to address the global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Pherecydes Pharma, established in 2006, specialized in phage therapy from its inception.

The merger created a focused entity leveraging the complementary strengths of both predecessors: ERYTECH's clinical development experience and public market presence with Pherecydes' deep expertise in bacteriophage science. The joint company is led by CEO Thibaut du Fayet, who previously served as CEO of Pherecydes Pharma and has an extensive background in strategic marketing and corporate development at firms like Transgene and bioMérieux. This new structure aims to accelerate the development of a portfolio of phage therapies targeting critical pathogens. The company operates in the biopharmaceutical market, specifically addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, which is projected to cause more than 10 million deaths annually by 2050. Its clients are patients with severe bacterial infections where conventional antibiotic treatments have failed. PHAXIAM is publicly traded on the Euronext Paris market and was on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

PHAXIAM's core business revolves around phage therapy, which uses naturally occurring viruses called bacteriophages to specifically target and destroy pathogenic bacteria. This approach offers high specificity, preserving the patient's microbiota, unlike broad-spectrum antibiotics. The company's product pipeline focuses on three of the most dangerous and resistant bacteria responsible for a majority of hospital-acquired infections: *Staphylococcus aureus*, *Escherichia coli*, and *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*. A key asset is the PhageBank®, a vast proprietary library of over 1,000 characterized phages, which enables the creation of customized treatments tailored to a patient's specific infection. The company's lead program targets Prosthetic Joint Infections (PJI) caused by *S. aureus*. Clinical development includes the PhagoDAIR pilot study and preparations for a global Phase 2 study (GLORIA). Other clinical programs are investigating treatments for endocarditis, diabetic foot ulcers, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. The business model incorporates two revenue strategies: a traditional Phages Therapy Medical Product (PTMP) pathway involving clinical trials and regulatory approval, and an Individualized Phages Therapy (IPT) model providing personalized treatments where authorized. However, the company has faced significant financial difficulties, leading to judicial liquidation proceedings announced in June 2025 and a subsequent delisting from the stock exchange.

Keywords: phage therapy, antimicrobial resistance, biopharmaceutical, bacterial infections, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, clinical trials, Prosthetic Joint Infections, PhagoDAIR, ERYTECH Pharma, Pherecydes Pharma, Thibaut du Fayet, antibiotic resistance, PhageBank, bacteriophage, drug development, life sciences, hospital-acquired infections, compassionate use, endocarditis, diabetic foot ulcer, individualized therapy, PTMP, IPT