Intralytix has announced a new exclusive partnership that expands the use of bacteriophages into the protein live production sector, reinforcing its long-standing role at the forefront of phage-based biological solutions.
The Maryland-based company has agreed with Plaza Feed & Crop Nutrition to integrate its bacteriophage products into specialised phage kits designed for livestock applications. The collaboration brings together Intralytix’s highly targeted phages with Plaza’s Cecabiotics probiotic, creating a combined system intended to manage bacterial pathogens while supporting overall animal health.
Bacteriophages — naturally occurring viruses that infect and destroy bacteria — form the core of Intralytix’s technology. In these kits, phages are grouped into combinations aimed at specific foodborne pathogens commonly associated with livestock production, including E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria. The phages are paired with Cecabiotics, a wide-spectrum probiotic formulated to optimise nutrient use, enhance animal performance and limit the regrowth of harmful bacteria.
According to the companies, the combined approach is designed to work through complementary mechanisms. The phages act rapidly and selectively (unlike antibiotics) against their bacterial targets, while the probiotic component occupies the ecological niche left behind, helping to suppress further pathogen growth through competitive exclusion. The aim is to achieve a longer-term microbial balance without disrupting beneficial bacteria.
Founded more than three decades ago, Intralytix is regarded as the oldest bacteriophage company in the United States and has played a central role in moving phage technology from research into commercial and regulated use. The company has pioneered regulatory pathways for phage products, established large-scale manufacturing under current Good Manufacturing Practice standards, and developed one of the world’s largest portfolios of phage products approved by US food safety authorities.
Its facilities operate under stringent quality frameworks, including Safe Quality Food certification for phage manufacturing, and the company was the first globally to establish a Master Drug File with the US Food and Drug Administration for phage manufacturing suitable for human clinical applications. While much of its work has focused on food safety and public health, the partnership with Plaza reflects growing interest in extending phage applications deeper into livestock production systems.
Plaza Feed & Crop Nutrition, founded in 2017 and based in Houston, Texas, specialises in sourcing and distributing animal feed and crop nutrition products from international suppliers. Its team includes animal nutritionists and agricultural specialists with decades of industry experience, supported by the logistics infrastructure of its parent company, The Plaza Group. Through exclusive distribution agreements, Plaza positions itself as a conduit between product developers and agricultural producers seeking performance-driven solutions.
The agreement targets the protein livestock production market, encompassing poultry, ruminants, and other livestock sectors where disease control, productivity, and sustainability are tightly linked. As pressure increases to reduce antibiotic use and address antimicrobial resistance, biological alternatives such as phages and probiotics are attracting increased attention from producers and regulators alike.
By packaging phages and probiotics into a single kit, the companies aim to simplify adoption for livestock producers and make advanced microbial control more practical at scale. The collaboration also signals a broader shift toward integrated biosolutions that combine precision antimicrobial activity with microbiome support, rather than relying on single-mode interventions.
