Penrhos Bio

is a bioscience company with the unique capability to safely control the formation of harmful biofilms. This uses an entirely novel approach that has been inspired by nature and the natural biology of the oceans.

Penrhos Bio

is a bioscience company with the unique capability to safely control the formation of harmful biofilms. This uses an entirely novel approach that has been inspired by nature and the natural biology of the oceans.

Penrhos Bio

is a bioscience company with unique capability to safely control biofilm formation
using nature-inspired molecules.

Biofilms are ‘communities’ of microbes such as bacteria and fungi that live and grow on a surface. Harmful biofilms represent an increasingly serious societal problem from a wide range of economic, environmental, and health and wellbeing perspectives. Biofilms are a global challenge; they are the fouling that causes drag to shipping, the fungus that destroys food crops in the field and the infection that stops a chronic skin ulcer healing. In 2020, the total economic impact of harmful biofilms was estimated to be almost $4 trillion globally and £45 billion ($62bn) in the UK alone . The cost to the environment and to society is immeasurable.

Biofilms are ‘communities’ of microbes such as bacteria and fungi that live and grow on a surface. Harmful biofilms represent an increasingly serious societal problem from both economic, environmental, health and wellbeing perspectives. Biofilms are a global challenge; they are the fouling that causes drag to shipping, the fungus that destroys food crops in the field and the infection that stops a chronic skin ulcer healing. In 2020, the total economic impact of harmful biofilms was estimated to be almost $4 trillion globally and £45 billion ($62bn) in the UK alone . The cost to the environment and to society is immeasurable.

Biofilms form when free-floating microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi come in contact with a surface and begin to adhere. Once stuck to a surface, the microorganisms use biological communication mechanisms to collaborate to form a complex, three dimensional community or ‘biofilm’.

Formed as a company in 2019 jointly by Unilever and Innova Partnerships, Penrhos Bio is commercialising

a patented ground-breaking platform technology that addresses the problem of harmful biofilms by blocking the communication between the microorganisms, preventing the biofilm forming.

Our vision is a world free of harmful biofilms

Biofilms form when free-floating microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi come in contact with a surface and begin to adhere. Once stuck to a surface, the microorganisms use biological communication mechanisms to collaborate to form a complex, three dimensional community or ‘biofilm’.

Formed as a company in 2019 jointly by Unilever and Innova Partnerships, Penrhos Bio is commercialising a patented ground-breaking platform technology that addresses the problem of harmful biofilms by blocking the communication between the microorganisms, preventing the biofilm forming.

Our vision is a world free of harmful biofilms

We are proud to be members of the NBIC community

Penhros Bio

is a bioscience company with unique capability to safely control biofilm formation
using nature-inspired molecules.

The company was formed as a joint venture between Unilever plc and Innova Partnerships in 2019 and has exclusive licence to exploit innovative bioderived anti-biofilm technology developed by Unilever plc over the past 10 years.

Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on surfaces represent an increasingly serious societal problem from economic and health perspectives.  Hospital surfaces & equipment, medical devices, household surfaces & appliances as well as everyday items such as clothing and banknotes are constantly challenged by microbial contamination.  
 
Biofilm formation begins when free-floating micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi come in contact with a surface and begin to adhere.  Following adherence, biofilms then start to develop and can grow into complex 3D structures through biological communication mechanisms.
 
Penrhos Bio is developing innovative naturally derived products that are active in solving bacterial and microbial problems in the marine, textile, paper, household cleaning and medical industries. 
 
Our vision is a world free of harmful biofilms.
Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on surfaces represent an increasingly serious societal problem from economic and health perspectives.  Hospital surfaces & equipment, medical devices, household surfaces & appliances as well as everyday items such as clothing and banknotes are constantly challenged by microbial contamination.  
 
Biofilm formation begins when free-floating micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi come in contact with a surface and begin to adhere.  Following adherence, biofilms then start to develop and can grow into complex 3D structures through biological communication mechanisms.
 
Penrhos Bio is developing innovative naturally derived products that are active in solving bacterial and microbial problems in the marine, textile, paper, household cleaning and medical industries. 
 
Our vision is a world free of harmful biofilms.