The company said while it will take several years before cell-based whole milk passes regulatory requirements, it has chosen to be commercially focused by exploring the field of milk ingredients.
Max Rye, chief strategist of TurtleTree, said, "We have been able to identify early commercial ingredient targets due to our frequent conversations with prominent performance nutrition and infant formula companies. We've since seen tremendous interest from global partners in our portfolio of human and bovine milk products. It is going to be an exciting year for us."
Lactoferrin has been gaining traction recently in studies showing its value in boosting resistance to infections from blocking the Covid-19 virus to fighting off bad bacteria in the gut and viral infections. Lactoferrin is an important compound for babies' early protection. Its concentration in human milk is five times higher than in cow milk, although human colostrum has the highest amount of 5-6g/L.
Besides providing protection, lactoferrin also plays an important role in brain development and inflammation responses. Gaining traction for adult and senior health, today it is used for treating stomach and intestinal ulcers, diarrhea, hepatitis C and regulating the way the body processes iron.
TurtleTree's cell-based technology has recreated the human-optimized protein from the blueprint of human milk, which the company said makes it more accessible to everyone without relying on cattle farming.
