Nestlé and Helaina to Collaborate on Bioactive Proteins and Early-Life Nutrition

Nestlé and nutrition biotech company Helaina have formed a strategic innovation collaboration focused on understanding new bioactive proteins and their role in early‑life development.

The multi-year partnership brings together Nestlé’s expertise in early‑life nutrition and product development with Helaina’s biotechnology capabilities.

Helaina has developed a proprietary precision fermentation process to develop bioactive proteins, including effera, a bio-identical form of lactoferrin.

Nestlé said the work with Helaina will contribute to its efforts to translate scientific insights into science‑based nutritional solutions that unlock specific health benefits.

“Nestlé has always been at the forefront of advancing scientific knowledge on key nutrients and bioactives that are important during early life, including their interactions with the gut microbiome and the immune system,” Said Isabelle Bureau‑Franz, head of the Nestlé Product Technology Center for Nutrition & Health. “Collaborations with external partners such as Helaina form an integral part of our broader open innovation strategy to deepen scientific understanding in this field, while gaining access to emerging technologies.”

Laura Katz, founder and CEO of Helaina, added, “We believe new bioactive proteins present a significant innovation in nutrition right now. At Helaina, we’re focused on manufacturing these bioactives at scale with clinical credibility and together with Nestlé we can uncover new developments that advance early-life nutrition.”