The deal gives DuPont exclusive rights to selected fucosylated human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), including 2’-fucosyllactose.
John Rea, global business unit leader for probiotics, cultures, food protection and HMOs at DuPont said the partnership is part of a new era in infant nutrition ingredients.
He added that the development was working towards the company’s mission of helping solve global food challenges.
The partnership is currently working on developing the ingredients by implementing an industrial-scale fermentation process and submission for regulatory approvals to enter the market in 2017.
Introduction of first HMO
HMOs – oligosaccharides found in mothers’ milk – have been identified as important components of human milk that help shape an infant’s gut microbiome and a balanced immune system development. The HMO 2’-fucosyllactose is the single most abundant.
Prof. Wim Soetaert, executive chairman of Inbiose, said the collaboration would accelerate the introduction of its first HMO.
Digestive/gut health was the primary claim associated with infant formula launches in 2015, according to market research firm Innova, featuring in 58% of all launches in the market.
Martin Kullen, global R&D leader for probiotics, cultures, food protection and HMOs at DuPont said that HMOs represent the next generation of functional oligosaccharides.
Kullen said the inclusion of HMOS will be a significant advancement in the improvement of infant formula.