Nestlé to license breast milk probiotic strain from Biosearch Life

The deal will see Nestec SA, a company of the Nestlé group, take control of the global marketing of Biosearch Life's Hereditum strain (L. fermentum LC40) in a food supplement aimed at breastfeeding women for the purpose of maintaining healthy lactation.

The Spanish biotech said the strain was selected from among hundreds of strains found in breast milk, and has been shown in clinical studies to reduce painful inflammation in the breasts known as mastitis – which is a major cause of mothers stopping breastfeeding early.

Mastitis is usually treated with antibiotics, but normally results in mothers deciding to stop breastfeeding, the press release noted. However, research has suggested that the L. fermentum​ LC40 strain can not only eliminate painful symptoms associated with mastitis but also allow the continue breastfeeding.

Under the agreement, Nestec has license to commercialise the supplement in 41 countries. According to a recent Spanish report​, based on information sent to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), the two companies expect the deal to bring in revenues of around €30 million euros over the next five years.