The transfer was introduced on Wednesday by Danone and European enterprise capital agency Seventure Companions, which was beforehand the primary shareholder of The Akkermansia Firm (TAC).
TAC’s core product is a pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT, a next-generation biotic that has been discovered to bolster the intestine barrier, cut back irritation and assist handle weight problems, diabetes and cardiovascular ailments.
The choice represents Danone’s shift to prioritize intestine well being, an more and more widespread space of focus because of its rising recognition for its function in general well-being and prophylactic properties.
Why has Danone acquired The Akkermansia Firm?
Danone CEO Antoine de Saint‑Affrique introduced the launch of its Renew strategy in March 2022 as a part of an overhaul aimed toward reconnecting the corporate with sustainable, worthwhile progress.
The plan revolved round 4 core pillars: restoring competitiveness in core classes like dairy and plant‑primarily based, making selective growth into new segments and markets. looking for future progress avenues. and adapting for portfolio rotation, together with contemplating strategic acquisitions.
As of June 2024, Danone entered the next chapter of the Renew project which can run till 2028. This subsequent part included plans to pivot classes towards well being, with a stronger deal with each protein consumption and intestine well being diet.
There’s a rising world curiosity in subjects resembling microbiome well being and customized diet, in addition to the wide-reaching capabilities of biotics.
With this funding, Danone is seeking to place itself on the forefront of a significant well being and diet pattern.
“Increasing deeper into intestine well being is a key side of Danone’s Renew technique, because it doubles down on science and innovation, and as shopper curiosity in wholesome merchandise continues to rise,” based on a press release issued by Danone following the announcement.
About The Akkermansia Firm
Akkermansia has proven a possible constructive influence on a spread of well being circumstances. The precise species Akkermansia muciniphila was first remoted, recognized and characterised by Professor Willem Meindert de Vos and his group at Wageningen College, The Netherlands in 2004.
In 2008, Meindert de Vos collaborated with Professor Patrice D. Cani of UCLouvain, Belgium, and the pair based The Akkermansia Firm in 2016 to develop and patent the species.
The corporate has broad patents defending the usage of the Akkermansia species, together with the usage of the pasteurized model (postbiotic) of the pressure, MucT, which they report as its most bio-efficacious kind.
“A very powerful factor to say in regards to the pressure that we promote is that we chosen the pasteurized model, moderately than the dwell model as a result of it was simpler in medical improvement,” Michael Oredsson, CEO of TAC, previously told NutraIngredients.
He added that heat-killed micro organism don’t lose their efficiency as shortly as a probiotic, don’t want refrigeration and don’t require particular encapsulation methods to make sure they attain the intestine alive, which makes it a lot simpler to combine into a spread of merchandise.
Software for the approval of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila as a novel meals ingredient within the European Union was made in 2019. A 12 months later, the toxicological security analysis of the pressure was printed, and Akkermansia became the first next-gen bacterium to get EFSA approval in 2021 and stays the one one with European approval.
In response to Oredsson, this newly introduced acquisition is about to supply quick and extensive progress, stating: “It supplies us with the sources to speed up world progress of the pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT pressure and develop our manufacturers quicker.”
TAC, which has already expanded into Europe, North America and Asia, will now be capable to profit from Danone’s world attain.
The Akkermansia Firm was awarded the NutraIngredients Microbiome Modulation Product of the Year Award 2025 for its Wholesome Weight with Glucose Management complement.
