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Danone acquires Belgian biotech firm The Akkermansia Company


Danone has purchased The Akkermansia Company, a Belgian biotech firm focused on biotics, for an undisclosed amount.

In a statement, Danone, the owner of the Activia yogurt brand, said that “expanding deeper into gut health is a key facet' of its corporate growth plans.

The Akkermansia Company was founded as a spin-off from UCLouvain in Belgium and Wageningen University in the Netherlands, and is known for discovering and developing the biotic strain Akkermansia muciniphila MucT in 2004.

Danone stated that the strain has been clinically proven to strengthen the gut barrier, reduce inflammation, and help manage metabolic disorders including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

In a separate statement, The Akkermansia Company said it holds “broad patents” for the use of the Akkermansia species, including its pasteurised form, MucT, “which is its most bio-efficacious form.

CEO Michael Oredsson said the deal provides the company with “the resources to accelerate global growth of the pasteurised Akkermansia muciniphila MucT strain and develop our brands faster”.

Since launching in the Belgian market in 2021, The Akkermansia Company has expanded sales of Akkermansia muciniphila MucT across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Among the group’s offerings are supplement products. According to its website, the company sells a postbiotic supplement for $69.95 that “promotes weight management” and “supports a healthy gut.”

Gut health is part of Danone’s Essential Dairy & Plant-Based (EDP) portfolio, which also features plant-based milk alternative brands such as International Delight and Silk.

In Danone's 2024 released last week, CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique stated that the group has begun constructing the “Danone of tomorrow” as part of the Renew strategy launched in 2022 to drive profitable growth.

Saint-Affrique explained that the plan involves “gradually shifting the way we address our categories: including high protein and gut health” and “further expanding our geographic footprint”.

In 2024, Danone’s Essential Dairy & Plant-Based (EDP) products accounted for 49.2% of net sales, generating €13.36 billion ($15.64 billion) out of the total €27.37 billion.

In its annual report, The French group said it will “continue to invest in research and contribute to the scientific field to demonstrate how nutrition can impact health from early life to aging, with a key focus on gut health”.

The acquisition of The Akkermansia Company comes after Danone’s efforts to acquire full ownership of Lifeway Foods, in which it has held a 23% stake since 1999.

Based in the US, Lifeway Foods produces probiotic-rich products with a focus on gut health. So far, it has rejected Danone’s offers to acquire the remaining shares, arguing that the bids undervalue the company.


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