DuPont Nutrition & Health Enters Probiotic Agreement With AB-Biotics

30 May 2014 --- DuPont Nutrition & Health and AB-Biotics have signed a global collaboration and licensing agreement on AB-Life, a probiotic that is clinically documented to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in at-risk individuals. Under the agreement, DuPont will have exclusive rights for the production, marketing and sales of AB-Life; and AB-Biotics will continue to conduct clinical research to further substantiate the proven health benefits of AB-Life.

AB-Life is a patented probiotic formulation developed by AB-Biotics, based in Barcelona, Spain. DuPont is integrating AB-Life into its documented HOWARU probiotic range for the dietary supplement and food and beverage industries. The company expects to launch the product in 4th quarter 2014.

“We are excited to work with AB-Biotics to support probiotics for heart health,” said Fabienne Saadane-Oaks, vice president Health and Protection, DuPont Nutrition & Health. “Probiotics is a fast-growing segment of our business as people increasingly experience the benefits they can provide. Our HOWARU formulations have been clinically tested and shown to deliver the digestive and immune support people need, and we are looking forward to adding cardiovascular support to our probiotics portfolio.”

The new probiotic will complement DuPont’s portfolio for cardiovascular health, which includes Danisco Pinvita phytosterols, Danisco Evesse EPC, a natural apple extract and soy protein to address the needs of a global healthy aging population.

"This agreement marks a significant milestone for AB-Biotics and proves the high value of our patented probiotics and other functional ingredients for the dietary supplement and food and beverage industries,” said Miquel Angel Bonachera and Sergi Audivert, CEOs of AB-Biotics. “Thanks to DuPont we can bring AB-Life to this market with a top-positioned partner.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 cause of death globally. Forty-three per cent of cardiovascular deaths arise from coronary heart disease and 32 per cent from strokes; raised cholesterol increases the risks of heart disease and stroke. Globally, a third of ischaemic heart disease is attributable to high cholesterol.

Industry estimates state that the global retail market for probiotics is estimated at $32 billion and is expected to grow to $45 billion in 2018. More than 90 per cent of the total is attributed to food, beverage and dietary supplements.  

The WHO defines probiotics as "live micro-organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health bene?t on the host."  Probiotics offer unique support for digestive and immune health and other well-being benefits for the dietary supplement, dairy and beverage markets.  

AB-Biotics is a biotechnology company focused on research, development, protection and distribution of biotech unique solutions to improve the health and well-being of people. Its areas of activity include the development of pharmacogenetic tests for neuropsychiatry, and probiotics and other functional ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industries. AB-Biotics is listed on the Spanish Alternative Investment Market (MAB). The company began in 2012 its international expansion and has closed several agreements for marketing their products in America, Europe and Asia.