Food and beverage giant Danone has stepped further into the gut health arena with the acquisition of biotic specialist, The Akkermansia Company (TAC)
Through this investment, Danone will gain access to TAC's Akkermansia muciniphila MucT, a patented bacterial strain that has been shown to protect the gut barrier, reduce inflammation and reduce the severeity of metabolic disorders like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
This falls in line with Danone's plans to strengthen its legacy in the functional food space, which begun almost a century ago through the sale of probiotic-rich fermented foods to consumers worldwide.
TAC and its founders, Prof, Wilem de Vos and Prof. Patrice Cani were instrumental in discovering, naming and characterising Akkermansia, which is now one of the most well-known and researced commensal bacterial strains.
Through their efforts, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approved the use of pasteurised Akkermansia muciniphila within food products in 2021.
Now, Danone will be free to incorporate the patented bacterial strain into its range of food and beverage products, enhancing the gut health-boosting potential of its products.
This comes at a time where gut health research is progressing rapidly, with mounting proof that the intestinal microbiome can influence everything from immune health to cognition and cardiovascular wellness.
As consumer understanding of gut health's impact on general wellbeing increases, many are turning to functional ingredients that can support this powerful system — with products like kefirs, yoghurts and supplements all proving highly popular.
“We consider Danone's acquisition of TAC a major success; particularly in today's challenging M&A landscape," notes Philippe Durieux, Managing Partner at TAC founders, VIVES Partners.
"TAC's story perfectly demonstrates our investment strategy at VIVES: turning European academic research into a thriving commercial venture," he adds.
“This marks the beginning of a new chapter for TAC," adds the company's CEO, Micheal Oredsson. "Our innovation will now contribute to improving the lives of many people around the world from the gut."