Biosearch Life Applies For Patent on Probiotic Bacterias Regulating Cholesterol Levels

20 Jan 2015 --- Biosearch Life has recently registered an application for a new patent to protect two new probiotic strains for use in the control of Hypercholesterolemia: Probiotic strains having cholesterol absorbing capacity, methods and uses thereof”.

This patent is the result of activity performed within the framework of the project entitled: “New applications of probiotic strains and derived compounds with biological activity” (POSTBIO Project), funded by the IDEA Agency in Andalusia. The aforementioned project was created in 2011 with the aim of extending the potential application of probiotic microorganisms in general and in particular the strains developed by Biosearch Life. The project, which was completed in March 2014, lasted for 3 years with a total investment plan of 2,7 million. With this project, Biosearch life has propelled one of the strategic lines of the company, probiotic bacteria, moving away from classic applications and opting for new, unexplored or little explored applications.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the population, hypercholesterolemia being one of the main risk factors identified. Among the objectives of the Project the search for new strains with cholesterol level regulatory activity was outlined. Among a set of new bacterial strains isolated from various sources, two strains were selected: a Lactobacillus reuteri isolated from cow milk and a Bifidobacterium breve isolated from human milk due its special capacity to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol and regulate plasma levels. The subsequent in vivo tests, which were performed in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology in the Pharmacy faculty of the University of Granada, demonstrated the effectiveness of administering these two new strains to regulate cholesterol levels and to significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in animal models of diet-induced hypercholesterol. Although there were earlier references to the hypercholesterolemia activity of certain Probiotic strains, Biosearch Life has gone deeper into the knowledge of the bacterial components and mechanisms implicated in this activity. These studies have enabled Biosearch Life to develop a new product of Probiotic origin with major technological advantages which allows it to be added to food or pharmaceutical matrices of very different types without limiting the viability of the bacteria.

This new patent of Biosearch Life is added to that applied for in 2013 “Probiotic bacteria comprising metals, metal nanoparticles and uses thereof” also a result of the research conducted in the POSTBIO Project. With these new patents Biosearch Life reaffirms its position as a leader of innovation in the field of Probiotic bacteria.