An Interview with Søren Kjærulff, Lactobio ApS Co-founder and CEO: ‘We’re Dedicated to the Development of Innovative Microbial Products and Concepts to Fight Bacterial Infections including Multi-resistant Bacteria’

“Our vision is to create a leading biotech company developing probiotic and microbiome products.”

Probiotics have clinically proven immune-supporting effects, resulting in decreased incidence of common infections and colds, as well as help prevent and treat diarrhoea. Probiotics supports a well-balanced and diverse intestinal environment, with several beneficial effects such as help reduce symptoms of certain digestive disorders and provide relief of common intestinal health problems, including irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and ulcerative colitis.

In light of the foregoing, we’re thrilled to present Lactobio ApS.

Lactobio ApS works with probiotic strains and currently has a collection of probiotic strains isolated from different human body parts, as well as from different types of fermented vegetables. The company screens this collection for probiotic strains with targeted activity towards selected biomarkers.

Lactobio was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Søren Kjærulff, Lactobio ApS Co-founder/CEO, spoke exclusively to The Silicon Review. Below is an excerpt.

How did you expand your company and its offerings over the years?

Lactobio has built a proprietary discovery and screening platform consisting of over 1000 new isolated Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). The LAB collection is screened to identify the best strains for cosmeceutical and live biotherapeutic products (LBP) targeted to a specific need or microbiome dysfunctions associated with specific diseases. Focus in Lactobio is screening for antimicrobial activities against antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens, identification of LBP candidates for further drug development as LBP.

Lactic acid bacteria are recognized for their health benefits including their immunomodulating effect, production of antimicrobial metabolites and peptides, altering of the microbiota composition and their positive effect on balancing the healthy microbiota.

How successful was your first project roll on? Share the experience.

Our first project relates to a new topical use of probiotics for skincare, especially targeting sensitive eczema skin and skin conditions related to Staphylococcus aureus. The project resulted in three new products just being certified in Europe (EU) as skincare products comprising live probiotic lactic acid bacteria. Lactobio managed to isolate, characterize, develop strains and product formulation, up-scale production, certify and bring the products to market in August 2019 as B2C products and B2B outside Denmark.

There is nothing more important for a successful small business than a well-defined mission and vision statements. Can you explain your M&V statements in brief?

Our vision is to create a leading biotech company developing probiotic and microbiome products.

Lactobio is dedicated to the development of innovative microbial products and concepts to fight bacterial infections including multi-resistant bacteria.

“Earning trust and respect of consumers is through consistent focus on delivering high quality in all of our actions.” How do you interpret this statement?

We have decided to make products based on natural and organic ingredients, using certified ingredients and well-established sub-contractors for production. Both of us (founders) have over 20 years of experience from large international companies as scientists, managers, project managers and leaders, within product development and commercialization. We believe it is important for a professional collaboration with any partner, customer, or consumer to deliver on promises and quality.

What are the factors that make your brand one of the ‘Best’ companies?

Industry within skincare is conservative when it comes to microbiome science and the pharma business within live biotherapeutics are facing very unclear regulatory path to market. When meeting the “this is not possible…” we get motivated for just doing it.

Moreover, we stay lean and have a very simple setup. We file patent applications, we use our large professional network, collaborate abroad with Universities, hospitals as well as commercial partners.

How do you maintain your customers’ trust and loyalty?

Being new on the market we are still in the process of building customer relationships. We plan to be active with direct contact to customers and other stakeholders and also taking an active role in training and teaching about microbiome science. Keep direct contacts to customers through digital channels and social media.

Do you have any new products ready to be launched?

Yes, we are in product launch of our three first cosmeceutical products and we have three more cosmeceutical products in the pipeline.

Where do you see your company a couple of years from now?

Our products are based on ingredients from sustainable farming being certified organic; we will thrive to get as sustainable products and processes as possible. We aim at being 100 percent organic also involving re-cyclable packaging material.

“We are a probiotic and microbiome company developing cosmeceuticals, dietary supplements and live biotherapeutic products.”