Bactolife Secures €30 Million to Innovate Gut Health

Bactolife, a forward-thinking startup based in Denmark, is on a transformative mission to create a new category of gut health ingredients through the development of binding proteins. The company has successfully secured a Series B funding round exceeding €30 million ($35 million) to advance the commercialization of its innovative technology.

Investment Boost

This ambitious funding round is spearheaded by Cross Border Impact Ventures (CBIV) and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO). Existing investors, including Novo Holdings and Athos, also participated in this financial push. The capital will enable Bactolife to introduce its first products under the ‘Helm’ brand in the United States this year, with plans to expand further into Asian and European markets in the coming years.

CEO’s Vision

CEO Sebastian Søderberg expressed that the funds will allow the company to conduct human clinical studies and commercialize their ingredients for both humans—such as dietary supplements and functional food & beverages—and animals as feed additives.

Understanding Binding Proteins

In the realm of gut health, probiotics are known for enhancing the population of beneficial bacteria, while prebiotics serve as food for these microbes. Traditional antibiotics, however, can disrupt the microbiome by indiscriminately eliminating both harmful and beneficial bacteria.

Bactolife’s binding proteins represent a precision approach. These proteins specifically target and bind to harmful metabolites produced by unhealthy gut microbes, effectively preventing their absorption through the gut barrier. By flushing these metabolites from the gastrointestinal tract without disturbing the microbiome, Bactolife aims to harness the health benefits observed in the immunoglobulin fragments in camel milk.

Innovative Production

In an effort to scale production, Bactolife does not extract proteins directly from camel milk. Instead, the company utilizes precision fermentation to engineer microbes that can generate these proteins in larger quantities.

A Strategic Market Approach

Bactolife is set to achieve self-affirmed GRAS [Generally Recognized as Safe] status for its initial binding proteins in the first quarter of this year, with plans for submissions in the EU and Asia to follow, as stated by the US General Manager, Liz Spence. “We are also compiling a comprehensive dossier for full FDA GRAS notification,” she added.

The company aims to collaborate with commercial partners across the U.S. to produce dietary supplements and to connect with healthcare practitioners. Early collaborations can yield products featuring Bactolife’s binding proteins either as standalone ingredients or combined with other microbiome health solutions.

On the production side, Spence emphasized that their global manufacturing partners are equipped to facilitate large-scale delivery of these innovative products.

Addressing Gut Health Concerns

Spence acknowledged that while binding proteins are a novel concept, many consumers recognize the connection between harmful bacteria and digestive problems, as well as the concept of “leaky gut.” This presents an opportunity for Bactolife to target specific consumer groups, including travelers and the elderly, who may be more vulnerable to gut health challenges.

Among their initial offerings, Bactolife plans to introduce binding proteins that can particularly assist individuals with compromised gut health, such as those recovering from antibiotic use or elderly patients in nursing homes.

A Proactive Approach to Gut Health

Binding proteins present a unique advantage over traditional probiotics. Due to their heat and pH stability, they can be effectively utilized in a broader array of food and supplement applications. Additionally, the proteins are effective at low doses, making them easier to formulate, vegan-friendly, allergen-free, and lactose-free.

Spence noted, “Consumers are becoming increasingly aware that while ‘biotics’ are essential for cultivating beneficial bacteria, everyone experiences times of imbalance in their gut health. During such periods, options for addressing harmful microbes are limited. Binding proteins offer a proactive method for rebalancing gut health, whether in times of stress or as part of a daily supplement routine.”

Further Reading

For more insights into the evolving world of gut health, you can explore:

• Beyond ‘biotics: Bactolife plans US debut with intriguing new approach to gut health
• Verb Biotics on next gen biotics: ‘We’re function-first, and we’re not tied into any one organism or flagship strain’
• BiomEdit raises $18.4m Series B to expand designer probiotics platform
• ZBiotics has sold 8 million ‘pre-alcohol’ shots, launched new ‘sugar to fiber’ product