Institut Rosell's probiotic rolls further into Europe

The firm said yesterday that the probiotic - aimed at tackling irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - has been launched in the Czech Republic and Greece.

These two new European markets come just as French distributor, Merck Medication Familiale, has decided to extend its offerings with a new capsule form in the wake of the success of Lp299v in sachet format.

The probiotic supplement market is growing in Europe, currently worth the most in Italy.

The Italians' belief in the effectiveness of probiotics at boosting gut health has driven the economy to $310m (€219m) in just five years, according to Euromonitor.

Details of why Greece and the Czech Republic markets were targeted by Institut Rosell-Lallemand have not been disclosed.

Merck launched Bion Transit, a dietary supplement based on Lp299v, more than two years ago.

An Institut Rosell-Lallemand spokesperson said Merck's supplement is the "leading probiotic targeting bloating and gas reduction on the French market."

For the Czech market, Institut Rosell-Lallemand has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Rougier, which will make Lp299v available in capsule form through pharmacies and healthcare retailers around the country under the trade name Zenflo.

In Greece, the probiotic is distributed in sachet form by Smart Intermed under the trade name Zenbis.

Probiotic dietary supplements based on Lp299v are now present in five European countries, in addition to Canada, United States and South Africa.

Valérie Delahaye-Sarraute, global business director at Institut Rosell-Lallemand said: "We are very pleased with these two new partnerships for Lp299v in Europe. "

Our collaboration with Rougier is the product of a solid, long-term relationship that has already seen the company successfully launch our primary probiotic offerings in the Czech Republic.

Lp299v is our first product to penetrate the Greek market, and we are confident in the ability of our new partner, Smart Intermed, to develop awareness of the health benefits of Zenbis among Greek healthcare professionals."

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the most common functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by abdominal pain, bloating and irregular bowel function.

It affects an estimated 10 to 20 per cent of the western world's population.

There has been documented evidence showing the potential of Lp299v's positive impact on IBS patients.

Institut Rosell-Lallemand said a placebo-controlled randomized study had shown intestinal discomfort was improved by up to 95 per cent in patients, compared to 15 per cent with placebo, while abdominal pain and bloating were also significantly decreased.

Earlier this month Institut Rosell-Lallemand launched a probiotic formulation aimed at managing intestinal disorders.

The Canadian company said Protecflor, which uses a combination of yeast and bacteria, had received positive results in an in vivo study.

The firm will also be aiming the probiotic formula at traveller's diarrhoea.