Novonesis and Novo Nordisk partner for microbiome and metabolic health advancement

Novonesis and Novo Nordisk reveal that the two Denmark-based industry leaders are partnering to research the effects of microbiome balance on metabolic health. The research will explore the effects of pre- and probiotic synbiotic food supplements on the gut microbiome’s diverse microbiota and their impact on factors such as cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

Novonesis highlights that the partnership will use the gut microbiome to track and predict metabolic and comprehensive health trajectories. It will also look for novel biomarkers to help measure the effectiveness of two newly formulated synbiotic food supplements.

“The collaboration brings together Novo Nordisk’s expertise in human biology with Novonesis’ innovative biosolutions and expertise in microbiome research,” Henrik Jørck Nielsen, Novonesis’ EVP of Human Health Biosolutions & Strategy, tells Nutrition Insight. “Deeper knowledge of the microbiome could pave the way for new biosolutions, such as dietary supplements, that support metabolic health and promote overall well-being.”

“Our research will help us understand how this central part of the human body can predict health and disease risks.”

Toward better metabolic health

According to Nielsen, the partnership will utilize “deep phenotyping” to examine the gut’s microbiota, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, that naturally populate the microbiome.

He adds that this is a different approach when compared to traditional studies, and will allow for microbiome analysis in a “more real-world setting,” and enable a more complete holistic examination and understanding of the factors affecting metabolic health.Henrik Jørck Nielsen, the EVP of Human Health Biosolutions & Strategy at Novonesis.

“A near-term goal and milestone is to scientifically demonstrate how a synbiotic food supplement can impact metabolic health and to generate new biomarkers,” Nielsen explains. “We intend to use deep phenotyping to analyze a wide range of data, including classical factors, new digital and wearable data, as well as genetics and lifestyle.” 

“This approach will allow us to find new biomarkers and, hopefully, uncover some of the complexities surrounding the microbiome and metabolic health.”

Addressing a global epidemic

The number of metabolic health and obesity-related diseases, like cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes, continues to rise globally. In conjunction, so does the demand for natural solutions, alternatives, and complements to interventions such as medications like GLP-1 agonists and surgeries.

The research will utilize the deep phenotype exploration along with data sets from participants’ wearables and devices to discover new biomarkers and gauge how the two symbiotic formulas affect these biomarkers and metabolic health parameters.

“By definition, this can give us a more personalized or predictive understanding of how people respond to microbiome supplementation,” Nielsen underscores. “By targeting the microbiome, biotics may help address certain health challenges and could then play a supportive role when used alongside other treatments.”

 “We’re thrilled that the microbiome’s critical role in health is gaining broader recognition, as this could open new ways of addressing health and disease in impactful ways,” he concludes.

In related news, the University of California, Davis, US, spoke with us about its recent partnership with Novo Nordisk to develop “future food and health leaders.” At the same time, Novonesis partnered with 21st.Bio to scale dairy-free fermented alpha-lactalbumin, and the company unveiled “strong” half-year results, bolstered by increased biosolutions demand.