Evonik Nutrition & Care and GNUbiotics Sciences partner on animal milk oligosaccharide product

20 Nov 2019 --- Evonik Nutrition & Care will manufacture AMObiome, GNUbiotics Sciences SA’s product to restore natural symbiosis in pets and livestock animals with a microbiota imbalance. The strategic partnership is touted as combining the benefits of a start-up with a leader in the industry. This will streamline the path toward the commercial launch of the product, which is an animal milk oligosaccharide (AMO). AMObiome is a response to the increasing demand for natural break-through products for companion and production animal health.

“We are excited about the partnership with Evonik as it allows us to manufacture our novel AMO to the highest production standards as we begin commercialization,” says Yemi Adesokan, CSO at GNUbiotics.

With the first commercial lots successfully manufactured by Evonik, GNUbiotics has initiated two clinical trials with AMObiome in cats and dogs known as RESILIENT1 and MOTIVATE1. They are based on guidelines set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). These trials plus those in partnerships involve up to 300 animals.

Pre-clinical studies of AMObiome showed the selective promotion of key commensal microbes such as Lactobacillus spp, Akkermansia spp, Bacteroides spp and Megamonas, while intelligently moderating potential pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella.

“At GNUbiotics, we are passionate about translating innovation into benefits for companion and production animals. AMObiome is a first in class product to restore animal microbiota naturally,” says Jean-Philippe Kunz, CEO at GNUbiotics.

“We are pleased to support GNUbiotics by applying our technical expertise and industrial capabilities to enable the scale-up and commercialization of AMObiome,” adds Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the Evonik business line Health Care. “As a contract development and manufacturing organization in pharma and food ingredients, Evonik is committed to supporting customers of all sizes in industrializing their technologies.”

Evonik is not new to collaborations, with the German chemicals corporation launching a joint venture with Royal DSM earlier this year. Dubbed Veramaris, it has officially opened a US$200 million manufacturing facility located in Nebraska, US, for the commercial production of omega 3 fatty acids from natural marine algae. 

Edited by Katherine Durrell