Vivici B.V., a Dutch biotechnology venture, has secured €32.5 million ($34M) in Series A funding to accelerate the commercialization of its fermentation-derived lactoferrin, with plans for market launch in the second half of 2025. The funding round was led by APG on behalf of pension fund ABP and Invest-NL, with participation from InnovationQuarter, dsm-firmenich, and Fonterra.
The company, established through a partnership between New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra and global nutrition leader dsm-firmenich, is positioning itself to disrupt the traditional lactoferrin market with its innovative precision fermentation technology.
Market Opportunity and Product Development
Lactoferrin, often referred to as 'pink gold' in the industry, is a bioactive protein traditionally extracted from bovine and human milk, known for its immuno-modulating, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial properties. Current production methods require approximately 3 liters of milk to extract just 60mg of lactoferrin, resulting in market prices ranging from $300 to $3,000 per kilogram.
"Lactoferrin has tremendous potential," explains Stephan van Sint Fiet, CEO of Vivici. "Its supply is constrained and the low natural abundance of lactoferrin in milk makes it a costly protein. It's therefore an ideal product to make by precision fermentation."
Sustainable Production Advantages
Vivici's fermentation-derived products demonstrate significant environmental benefits compared to traditional dairy extraction methods. The company reports its beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) production achieves:
- 86% reduction in water usage
- 68% lower carbon emissions
Global Market Expansion Strategy
The company has strategically prioritized its market entry, focusing initially on developed markets with established regulatory frameworks. "Currently, we are focused on a scale market where the regulatory approval is in place, which is the US," states van Sint Fiet. The company is actively pursuing market access in:
- Canada
- Singapore
- European Union
- United Kingdom
Active Nutrition Focus
While approximately half of global lactoferrin production serves the infant nutrition sector, Vivici is targeting the growing active nutrition market. This segment demonstrated robust growth of 8.5% in 2023, reaching a valuation of $28.4 billion, according to LEK Consulting.
"The real potential for us lies with scaling businesses in the active nutrition space, and that's where our focus lies currently," emphasizes van Sint Fiet. The company has already secured its first customer offtake agreements, though specific details remain confidential.
Manufacturing and Future Developments
The Series A funding will enable Vivici to establish long-term manufacturing capabilities and support its global market expansion plans. The company sees particular potential in emerging markets, especially in the Middle East and Asia, where food security concerns create additional opportunities for alternative protein production methods.
Building on its successful development of GRAS-approved fermentation-derived beta-lactoglobulin, Vivici's upcoming lactoferrin launch represents a significant milestone in the company's mission to revolutionize functional dairy ingredient production through precision fermentation technology.
