Helaina’s US$45M funding paves way for new nutritional products with “human-equivalent proteins”

26 Sep 2024 --- Helaina, a biotechnology firm innovating nutrition with human-equivalent bioactive proteins, reveals it has received US$45 million in a Series B funding round, which increases its total equity funding to US$83 million. Avidity Partners led the round, with additional contributions from Spark Capital, Ingeborg Investments, Tom Williams of Heron Rock, Barrel Ventures, Siam Capital, Relish Works, CF Private Equity and Primary Venture Partners, among others.

The company says it will use the funds to expand the distribution of its effera Human Lactoferrin, a novel ingredient that supports women’s health, active nutrition and healthy aging. Helaina is currently marketing effera, which it says supports iron balance, immune response and a healthy microbiome, to consumer brands and via strategic partners.

“At this pivotal moment in our company’s journey, we’re proud to partner with Avidity Partners, an investment firm with an outstanding reputation for supporting best-in-class biotechnology companies rooted in clinically-backed science,” says Laura Katz, CEO and founder of Helaina.

Jacob Garfield, the managing director at Avidity Partners, says the company is excited to back Helaina’s innovative nutritional approach to health and wellness priorities, including immune system support and balancing the gut microbiome.

“We are confident that Helaina’s technology and business model are well positioned to meet the growing demand for high-quality nutritional ingredients that promote vitality across all age groups,” he reveals.

Human-equivalent proteins

Helaina highlights that, as “the first human-equivalent bioactive protein” for nutrition, effera will soon be featured in several consumer products.

These include offerings from Kroma Wellness, The Feed, Levelle Nutrition, Healthgevity and Mitsubishi International Food Ingredients, a distributor with expertise in expanding the market for nutritional ingredients with scientific rigor.

Nutrition Insight recently spoke with Katz about the company’s lactoferrin innovation. Katz told us that Helaina is working to change the functional foods landscape, stating: “Our precision fermentation platform can make all bioactive proteins to support immune health and is a gateway to a new and reliable source of high-value ingredients. We’re now primed to move from R&D toward commercialization.”

Fermentation for the future

Katz says the company’s goal is to build the next generation of nutrients by leveraging precision fermentation technology to set “a new standard for nutrition.”

The company spotlights that Helaina’s technology platform is driving a pipeline of bioactive proteins designed to enhance human healthspan.

Additionally, Helaina says it is preparing to support health across all age groups with the upcoming release of infant formula created in collaboration with formula manufacturers.

“This infusion of new capital marks the next phase of growth for Helaina in which we are accelerating the availability of our first ingredient through new partnerships — the result of years of work to drive innovation and scientific rigor within nutrition,” Katz concludes.

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