Nestlé Health Science acquires genetic disorders and allergy brands

11-Jun-2021 - Last updated on 10-Jun-2021 at 18:28 GMT

Nestlé Health Science has announced the acquisition of two brands belonging to specialised nutrition firm Dr Schär that addresses Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) and cow’s milk protein allergy.

The acquisition, made by Nestlé’s business unit Vitaflo, is for the Mevalia and ComidaMed brands in a deal that also includes a Dr Schär-owned manufacturing facility in Rosbach, Germany. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

“It can be very challenging for people to manage IEM dietary requirements on a day-to-day basis,” says Caroline Charlesworth, CEO of Vitaflo.

“Our mission is to make this as easy as possible, creating clinical nutrition products which taste great and are easy to incorporate into a busy life.

“We look forward to incorporating the Mevalia and ComidaMed brands into our portfolio to bring IEM solutions to more people around the world, offering more choice and variety.”

Divest Metabolic Nutrition unit

The acquisition, which is expected to be completed by July 1, 2021, is a move by Dr Schär to divest its Metabolic Nutrition unit in order to ‘further concentrate on customer segments with special nutritional needs as well as gluten free nutrition.’

The Italian-based firm, which welcomed Philipp Schoeller as its new CEO at the end of last year, have already begun veering in this direction by agreeing a deal with Desitin Arzneimittel that promotes the Kanso product portfolio.

Here, both companies aim to advance the dietary treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy or other conditions for which the ketogenic diet is recommended.

Schär, Flavis and Kanso

“In our medium to long-term outlook, we lay an emphasis on our nutrition-related brands,” says Schoeller.

“We are developing our global brand portfolio around Schär, Flavis and Kanso, with the aim of specialising even further in inclusive nutrition and gluten-free products - our future is in innovating special nutrition,"

“With the integration of the business within Vitaflo, we are positive that they will continue our successful journey in Metabolic Nutrition.

Meanwhile, Swiss-based Vitaflo, which has its business interests in developing clinical nutrition products for Inborn Errors of Metabolism, and conditions such as such as renal disease.

It was acquired by Nestle back in 2010, allowing the food and drink corporation to enter the global market for clinical nutrition products tailor-made for people with inherited metabolic disorders.