Chr. Hansen Health & Nutrition Acquires Urex Biotech Inc.

In 2004 Chr. Hansen and Urex Biotech Inch. entered into a strategic alliance on developing and promoting therapeutic solutions to women’s health issues based on proven probiotic strains.

27/01/09 With the acquisition of Urex Biotech Inc. Chr. Hansen A/S has expanded its activities within proven probiotics for dietary supplements.

“I am very pleased with this agreement. As a division our strategy is to continue the recent year’s positive development through organic growth or through relevant acquisitions - and Urex is a perfect strategic fit for us,” says Henrik Dalboege, Executive Vice President, Health & Nutrition Division, Chr. Hansen.

The Health & Nutrition Division experienced more than 20% organic growth in 2007/08 and has positive prospects for the future too. The focus is on developing new products for the dietary supplement industry and the pharmaceutical industry, first and foremost with focus on probiotics.

Urex is a convenient oral probiotic concept clinically documented to restore and maintain a healthy vaginal flora which may reduce the risk of infections. Over the last few years nine clinical studies conducted in several countries have been published using the oral formulation and numerous others are currently underway.

“For probiotics documentation is key and Urex –cap-5 is among the best documented probiotic concepts in the world. Furthermore, the concept fits perfectly to our existing product portfolio within the category women’s health and to our other probiotic solutions for gastrointestinal health and immune health,” Mr. Dalboege continues.

Urex is today sold in many markets worldwide e.g. the US, France, Poland and India.

In 2004 Chr. Hansen and Urex Biotech Inch. entered into a strategic alliance on developing and promoting therapeutic solutions to women’s health issues based on proven probiotic strains.

“We have enjoyed a very rewarding cooperation with Urex and we plan to continue our cooperation with the co-founder and internationally recognized probiotic researcher Dr. Gregor Reid in the future too", Mr. Dalboege concludes.

“Dr. Bruce and I accomplished what we set out to do with Urex, namely develop technology that could provide benefits for the urogenital health of women. But our hearts are in medical science and the time has come to return to those roots, leaving the business aspects of taking the lactobacilli to women around the world, in the safe hands of Chr. Hansen”, Dr. Reid explains.

The acquisition price is not disclosed.

Imbalance in the urogenital area can cause several unpleasant conditions such as Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). Recurrent BV may lead to symptoms such as foul/fishy odor, vaginal discharge and bacterial infections.

Chr. Hansen's probiotic strains effectively restore and maintain the natural flora of the vagina. This fact is supported by numerous clinical studies (in humans). The good news for women is that the product comes as a simple capsule taken orally once a day.

The concept was developed in collaboration between Chr. Hansen A/S and the Canadian biotech company, UREX Biotech Inc, in the 1990s. The latter was founded by the two well-known scientists, microbiologist Dr. Gregor Reid and urologist Dr. Andrew Bruce, who have documented the health effects of the probiotic strains used in the product since 1973.