ADM strengthens gut health strategy with US$235m Probiotics International acquisition

16 Aug 2018 --- Adding to a list of microbiome strategy investments, Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has completed its acquisition of Probiotics International Limited (PIL) – known under its umbrella brand Protexin – in a US$235 million deal.

ADM Protexin Limited – as the company will now be known – produces research-based probiotics, including its Bio-Kult and Lepicol brands. Protexin also offers a variety of natural products and probiotic supplements for the veterinary, agriculture and equine healthcare markets.

“With its leading human and animal nutrition brands sold in markets around the world, Protexin is an ideal addition to ADM’s established Health & Wellness business, which already includes a comprehensive range of ingredients such as bioactives, botanical extracts and specialty nutritional oils,” says Vikram Luthar, President, ADM Health & Wellness.

“We are excited to combine Protexin’s portfolio of high-quality probiotic products, along with its international commercial network and marketing and regulatory expertise, with ADM’s world-class research and development capabilities to help offer customers a full range of health and wellness products and solutions.”

This acquisition step follows a trail of purchases by ADM in a bid to increase its standing in the microbiome solutions space: “We took a major step in this area last year with the addition of Biopolis and then added to our capabilities with our personalized nutrition collaboration with Mayo Clinic, our joint development agreement with Vland Biotech and our new enzyme lab in California. Now, with the addition of PIL’s extensive sales and marketing network to our existing R&D capabilities, we are building a world-class, fully integrated probiotics and nutraceuticals business,” says Luthar.

Speaking on the Mayo Clinic collaboration announced in late 2017, Luthar told NutritionInsight at the time, “A major part of how ADM will make the collaboration with the Mayo Clinic work is by bringing to bear the investments we are already making in this space, particularly the technology and expertise we added earlier this year when we acquired a 90 percent ownership stake in Biopolis, a leading provider of microbial and sequencing technology with a strong portfolio of novel food ingredients.”

“We are delighted to join ADM’s Health & Wellness business. With numerous areas of expertise between Protexin, ADM and Biopolis, we will develop a wide range of fully integrated market-leading probiotics and nutraceuticals products promoting health and wellness in both humans and animals,” says Jonathan Sowler, Protexin Commercial Director.

ADM presented its wide range of Biopolis specialty probiotics at this years Vitafoods Europe, designed to aid product developers and formulators looking to create health-focused products. From conventional probiotic strains supported by clinical research showing potential benefits for immune and digestive health, to proprietary and tailored strains and blends that are being evaluated scientifically for the potential to support skin health and weight management or for use in infant and sports nutrition and more. The company demonstrated how it can support its partners in probiotic research, including selection and identification, through to scale-up and production. An exciting range of sugar-reduced juices, nutrition bars and gummies featuring probiotics was presented. You can view a video interview about the portfolio here.