Lallemand to commercialize Proge Farm’s probiotic for women’s health

20 Jul 2020 --- Lallemand Health Solutions will commercialize Proge Farm’s L. plantarum P17630 (Proge P17630) probiotic strain, which can aid in maintaining an equilibrium of a normal vaginal microflora in certain circumstances. The closure of the licensing deal will provide a new asset to Lallemand’s women’s health probiotic range and includes Asia, the Americas, France and Czechia. While oral formulation is now licensed to Lallemand Health Solutions, Proge Farm also proposes Proge P17630 as an active ingredient of medicine for vaginal use in softgel capsules.

“Women’s health is gaining more importance in the probiotics market as consumers are increasingly looking for natural ways to take care of their intimate health. Furthermore, with this specific strain, it will be even easier to do so with one daily dose taken orally,” says Isabelle Champié, Vice-President Sales and Marketing at Lallemand Health Solutions.

A Lallemand spokesperson tells NutritionInsight that oral intake makes a difference for convenience and compliance. Today’s consumers are busier than ever, and solutions that can be taken on-the-go are sought out. This is detailed in “The Right Bite,” one of Innova Market Insights’ Top Trends for 2020. This has translated to delivery formats that are touted for convenience. Notably, traditional tablets and capsules continue to be the preferred supplement dosage forms for EMEA consumers, but functional food and beverages are now in second and third place, according to the market researcher.

A potential market of 138 million women
Proge P17630 is a strain isolated from a healthy vaginal flora. Lallemand states the strain has full mechanistic and clinical evidence of efficacy to support and maintain an equilibrium of a normal vaginal microflora. This is when taken orally at a dose of 5 billion colony-forming units (CFU) per day, and by women prone to experiencing temporary imbalances in their vaginal microflora. It has been studied in over 800 women in six clinical studies, including two by oral intake.

Its touted benefits range from helping maintain proper vaginal balance to being used in combination with conventional treatments for candidiasis. Lallemand notes that women saw an improvement in candidiasis with a decrease in symptoms, including less swelling, redness, burning or itching. This probiotic strain can also help reduce the risk of recurrence of this candidiasis.

Women taking Proge P17630 saw an improvement in candidiasis, with a decrease in symptoms.The spokesperson further notes that while efficient treatment exists, relapse is a major issue. This is important to a huge number of consumers, as up to three in four women have at least one episode of a vaginal yeast infection in their life, totaling 138 million women each year. Up to 40 to 45 percent of women have two or more episodes in one year, while 5 to 8 percent have more than four in one year. 

“Probiotics for women’s health is a rapidly growing and evolving category as the use of probiotics is progressively expanding. Vaginal yeast infection is a concern for women all over the world,” notes the spokesperson.

According to Innova Market Insights, women’s health was the fourth most popular positioning for foods, beverages or supplements tracked with probiotics in 2018. It follows digestive/liver health, immune health and children positionings. Interestingly, L. Plantarum was also the fourth most popular probiotic ingredient in 2018, when it was seen in 37 percent of new product launches – up from 32 percent in 2014. 

Other moves in the women’s health space include Biosearch Life recently applying for a patent for a probiotic strain to address infertility problems in women. Meanwhile, Gnosis by Lesaffre recently unveiled the potential mechanisms of Quatreflora Biotic, used for vaginal infections caused by fungi and bacteria. In the spring, Chr. Hansen Holding acquired Austrian B2B company HSO Health Care to bolster its position in the probiotics for women’s health space.

By Katherine Durrell, with additional reporting by Kristiana Lalou