The Belgian business is working with Metagenics Europe to introduce the “next-generation” of pasteurised healthy bacteria in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg this September.
Under an exclusive agreement, the micronutrition company, which is also based in Belgium, will be responsible for the distribution of the supplement across the region.
Michael Oredsson, CEO of The Akkermansia Company, says: “The distribution agreement with Metagenics is the first phase of the launch of The Akkermansia Company brand.
“We are pleased to work with the leading company in BeNeLux and look forward to announcing next steps in our international expansion soon. We are proud to have our base in Belgium and Wallonia, an ideal hub as we develop into a global company."
Weight management support
The new supplement aims to help people with weight management, as well as prevent cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes.
The Akkermansia Company, which specialises in the microbiome, finally received market authorisation from the European Commission in September 2021, following 17 years of research and development. The decision means that it is now able to sell the product across the European Union.
Stijn Oste, CEO of Metagenics Europe, says: “We are very proud to be the first company to sign a partnership agreement with The Akkermansia Company.
“We plan to invest in the development and management of observational studies in close collaboration with the prescribers. The products formulated with Akkermansia muciniphila pave the way for a new generation of food supplements.”
Health benefits
Discovered in 2004, the Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium was isolated from human intestinal microbiota and characterised by Professor Willem M. de Vos of Wageningen University, Netherlands, a co-founder of The Akkermansia Company.
The other co-founder, Professor Patrice D. Cani of UCLouvain, Bruxelles, Belgium, and his team soon helped to expose the bacterium’s beneficial effects.
The pair’s collaboration has led to many scientific publications, which includes human clinical research. They have found that pasteurised Akkermansia muciniphila can dramatically reduce risk factors linked to diabetes type II and cardiovascular disease, such as a lowering of liver inflammatory markers, insulin resistance and hypercholesterolemia.
The bacteria can restore intestinal barrier function, which can reduce inflammation and eventually help manage the storage of fat, energy expenditure and glucose metabolism.
In addition, the pasteurised product has been found to work better than live Akkermansia. It also has a long shelf-life, is stable, and can be used in various types of food.
