Chr. Hansen Accelerates Efforts Within New Generation of Probiotics

09 Apr 2015 --- Chr. Hansen has taken an important step in its strategic venture into new generations of probiotic products and therapeutic microbes.

Through the creation of a new research and development consortium and the securing of strain access and commercialization rights, the company will strengthen its capabilities and gain access to renowned bio-banks of human gut bacteria.

Cees de Jong, CEO, Chr. Hansen, says: “Chr. Hansen has been a world leader in fermentation technology for 140 years and we have one of the industry’s strongest technological platforms for the production of microbes. We are now using this platform to expand into new generations of microbial solutions for human health, and with these agreements in place, we can strengthen our strategic research efforts and accelerate product development.”

New research and development consortium

In the consortium, led and financed by Chr. Hansen, the company partners with three academic institutions, all among the leaders in the field of anaerobic bacteria and host-microbe interactions: The University of Aberdeen (UK), the University of Groningen (NL) and the University of Wageningen (NL). 

The consortium will operate a research program, aimed at exploiting the human microbiome and developing bacterial products that can improve human health, for example in the prevention and treatment of gastro-intestinal and metabolic diseases.

Johan van Hylckama Vlieg, Senior Director of Chr. Hansen’s Microbiome Innovation, says: “This partnership will accelerate our development of a new growth platform for the company and help us strengthen key competences within the production of this special type of bacteria".

One of the lead investigators, Professor Dr. Harry Flint, University of Aberdeen, says: “The bio-banks of anaerobic bacteria that we will advance in this project, already cover 500 strains, some ranking among the best documented in the field. 

"These strains will be subjected to a deep analysis of their health functional activities and their potential for production and formulation.”
What is the human microbiome?

The human microbiome represents the collection of trillions of microbes that live in an intimate association with the human body, where they impact important body functions.

It is increasingly recognized that intervention on the human microbiome holds great potential in the management of health and disease, amongst others through a new generation of probiotic and therapeutic bacteria. 

Some of the most promising types of bacteria are anaerobic bacteria living in and on the human body, which require new approaches to production and formulation.