Probi and Perrigo’s EU pact looks to develop probiotics for digestive and immune health

By Will Chu

- Last updated on GMT

Probi & Perrigo develops probiotics for digestion & immunity
Sweden’s probiotics firm Probi have revealed details of a new collaboration with Perrigo in a pact looking to launch a series of probiotic concepts for digestive and immune health within the European region.

While financial terms agreed with the American Irish–pharmaceuticals firm were not disclosed, the go-to-market plan will cover 14 European countries with the first product launch expected later this year.

“We see the collaboration between Probi and Perrigo as an important step in our commercial efforts in offering clinically documented probiotic products to European consumers in partnership with successful consumer healthcare companies,”​ says Tom Rönnlund, CEO at Probi.

“We are excited to enter a partnership with Perrigo, where we feel full alignment and confidence on important parameters like research, quality and performance. I strongly believe that this will strengthen the Probi brand on a global scale.”

Further terms will see Perrigo launch three probiotic products in supplement form intended for digestive and immune health that uses Probi's probiotic strains.

These strains will fall under a new premier brand that expands Perrigo’s current self-care portfolio.

Lactiplantibacillus​ family

The strains in question form the core of the firm’s probiotic portfolio for digestive health and includes Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ​DSM 9843 (LP299V).

The firm’s probiotic strains to support immune health includes L. plantarum​ DSM 15312 (HEAL9) and Lactobacillus paracasei​ 8700:2 (DSM 13434).

These two strains were the focus of a recent Probi-funded study​ that found the blend to be well tolerated, reducing the incidence, duration, and severity of common colds both in adults and children.

Published in The Journal of Nutrition​, the study found the intake of the probiotic product reduced the frequency of recurrent cold infections and resulted in a significantly lower mean number of colds in the participants with colds.

However, the researchers added that the exact mechanism underlying the probiotic efficacy still remains poorly understood.

“Probi offers an extremely strong immune health concept,” ​says a spokesperson for Probi. “We have seen a significant increase in immune health solution interest globally from both existing and new customers since the start of the COVID pandemic.”

“We believe that the increased interest in immune health solutions is a testament that brands and consumers believe in and understand the effects probiotics can bring to maintain a healthy immune function.”

Meanwhile Perrigo’s agreement with Probi is the latest in a series of collaborations designed to bolster its consumer self-care interests.

The Dublin-based firm recently completed the acquisition of three Eastern European OTC skincare and hair loss treatment brands, Emolium, Iwostin and Loxon from Sanofi.

US activity

With headquarters also located in Michigan, Perrigo also maintains business interests in the US with a recent public-private partnership with Michigan State University (MSU) that focuses on academic, technology and product innovation.

The agreement connects the university's clinical and research expertise with Perrigo's product innovation, manufacturing scale and retail partnerships.

"We believe our partnership with Michigan State University has the potential to yield customized transformative self-care solutions that can help our retail partners and our consumers make informed health and wellness decisions that are best for themselves and their families,"​ commented Rich Sorota, Perrigo Executive Vice President and President, Consumer Self-Care Americas earlier this year.

Svend Andersen, Perrigo’s Executive Vice President and President of Consumer Self-Care International said of the agreement with Probi, “It is very important for Perrigo to enter the probiotic space together with a renowned probiotic innovator with a strong emphasis on scientifically validated probiotic concepts.

“This partnership will strengthen our self-care portfolio and enable Perrigo to gain a solid foothold within probiotics in many European countries. We are delighted to take this step together with Probi.”

Probi’s spokesperson went on to comment that many pharmaceutical companies were approaching Probi in regard to probiotic concepts that were backed up by clinical studies within gastro, immunity, iron absorption and bone health.

“It is well acknowledged that probiotics are moving into other health areas than digestion, and if the clinical data is of high quality, the pharmaceutical industry is interested,”​ the spokesperson adds.

“An example is our Probi Osteo concept, which is supported by clinical study published in the journal The Lancet.”

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