Lactoferrin is known to supports gut health by optimizing the microbiome balance and strengthening the gut barrier. It also helps manage the body’s inflammatory response, particularly relevant where repeated exercise drives chronic low-grade inflammation. Lactoferrin, called a “Miracle Molecule” in a 2022 paper in Nutrients, can improve iron absorption and utilization by the body, offering significant benefits for millions of women.
A spokesperson for Vivici told NutraIngredients that lactoferrin has tremendous potential, but its supply is constrained and the low natural abundance of lactoferrin in milk makes it a costly protein.
“It is therefore an ideal product to make by precision fermentation,” they said. “A fermentation-derived lactoferrin can be reliably available all year round, at the same price and with consistently high quality.
“With Vivitein LF, Vivici provides nutrition innovators with a lactoferrin ingredient that solves the supply and cost issues associated with traditionally produced lactoferrin and enables health and wellness brands to develop transformational consumer products.”
The company has obtained self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status in the United States.
“We have begun sampling and commercial supply to selected brands to seed the market,” the spokesperson added, noting that Vivici expects consumer products to be available later this year.
Vivici’s path
Founded in 2023, Vivici recently announced it had secured €32.5 million (approx. US$33.7 million) in Series A funding, led by APG on behalf of ABP, one of the largest pension funds in the world, and Invest-NL. Additional participation came from InnovationQuarter, as well as continued support from dsm-firmenich and Fonterra.
The company is expanding its manufacturing footprint to establish a global supply network while accelerating market access across geographies and segments for its ingredient portfolio.
Vivitein LF is the second ingredient to be launched by Vivici under the Vivitein banner, following the commercialization of a beta-lactoglobulin ingredient called Vivitein BLG.
The spokesperson noted that Vivici is seeing strong demand for Vivitein BLG and has signed several supply agreements that will see our protein featured in brand launches in the coming months.
“That momentum reflects clear commercial validation,” they said. “The success of BLG comes down to quality. Customers value its superior nutritional profile, functional performance and sensory experience compared to other proteins on the market. Sustainability is important, but it’s the baseline expectation. Nutrition ultimately determines success, and that’s where Vivitein BLG changes the game.”
The beta-lactoglobulin ingredient enables premium, high-performance formats across ready-to-drink and ready-to-mix beverages, high-protein shots, clear refreshment products, powders and bars—applications where traditional animal or plant proteins often fall short on clarity, purity and performance, they said.
“The key lesson we’re applying to Vivitein LF is simple: Lead with tangible consumer benefits,” the spokesperson said. “Clear differentiation, strong positioning and measurable performance are what drive adoption.”
The company will showcase its Vivitein portfolio of functional protein ingredients at Expo West 2026 in Anaheim.
