In April 2024, Lux attended the 12th Microbiome & Probiotics R&D and Business Collaboration Forum presented by Global Engage in The Hague, the Netherlands. This Microbiome meeting , which also included the Sixth Skin Microbiome & Cosmeceuticals Congress and the Ninth Probiotics & Prebiotics Congress, Europe, spanned two days and featured more than 75 speakers and 25-plus exhibitors. Panel discussions covered topics from the gut-brain and skin axes to advances in probiotics, prebiotics, and personalized nutrition. Highlights included a sensory panel by the Yili Group and plenary sessions on regulatory developments and investment trends in the microbiome sector. This research brief distills three key takeaways and notable findings from the forum.

1. Stress management through gut microbiota is emerging as a critical aspect of consumer product development.

Several companies and research institutions, including Health & Happiness Group, Gallinée, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, Probi AB, and Myota Health, highlighted the importance of gut-brain and gut-brain-skin axes in stress-related disorders, including anxiety. Experts highlighted the broader impact of stress disrupting the gut and skin microbiome, potentially aggravating skin conditions. As a bridge, Gallinée recently launched the Calm & Microbiome serum containing a complex of lactobacilli, marine prebiotics based on red and green algae, and bioavailable fermented oats — aiming to soothe skin and reduce stress. Novonesis (the company name after Novozymes merged with Chr. Hansen) brought to light Health Canada’s recent approval of two health claims for its probiotic strain CLEPIUS L. plantarum for offering stress relief and gastrointestinal health benefits. These developments underscore the potential of targeted probiotics and prebiotics in managing stress and promoting overall well-being.

2. Research on synergistic bioactives will be key to several health benefits.

Industry leader in human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), FrieslandCampina highlighted the stimulation of beneficial Bifidobacteria, the reduction of undesired Proteobacteria, and the recovery of antibiotic-induced gut microbiota disturbances based on the site of action in the gastrointestinal tract of infants when galactooligosaccharides and the 2’-FL HMO are combined as an infant formula.
Similarly, Novonesis focused on the novel efficacies of HMO and probiotic combinations (symbiotics) for a synergistic effect on stress-related symptoms. Synergism also applies to skin benefits, as the founder of Gallinée pointed to the interaction of active plant-based bioactives and commensal microorganisms for healthy skin. Instead of seeking new prebiotic sources, experts expect the next major focus in skin microbiome research to be developing prebiotics that interact optimally with the skin’s microbial communities.

3. The industry expects AI-driven bioinformatics to define a standard “healthy” skin microbiome.

As AI advances, its use in microbial strain research by analyzing large data sets will increasingly drive identification and characterization efforts. Machine learning can create predictive models to help us understand the complex interactions between microbial communities and the host organism. Yun Probiotherpy stressed that these models will allow researchers to identify microbial signatures associated with healthy skin and understand how these communities interact with the host. This will ultimately help develop proactive treatments or interventions to manipulate the microbiome beneficially. In addition to the existing data sets, AOBiome said, the industry has started considering samples from diverse populations, such as Asians and Africans, which will significantly enhance the data pool available for analysis.

Lux Take

Over the past few years, researchers have been trying to decode interactions among microbiome, host organism, and other modulators, like probiotics, bioactive compounds, genetics, environmental factors, diet, and lifestyle. This was evident through the interest of R&D and M&A leaders in the microbiome sampling and analysis platforms during the event. The conference discussions highlighted a significant shift toward precision microbiome solutions, reflecting increased consumer demand for personalized interventions targeting the gut-skin and gut-brain-skin axes to optimize health and wellness outcomes. A few years ago, most of the attention was on new product launches aimed at larger consumer cohorts. These continue to see attention, but the central focus has pivoted to precision prebiotics and probiotics and their specific interactions with myriad factors. As for breakthroughs in products targeting the skin microbiome, they will come not necessarily through new ingredients but rather through discovering optimum ingredient-microbiome interactions. Furthermore, topics like the interrelation between microbiome and longevity, while still relatively nascent, are beginning to gain traction. These developments underscore a trend toward a more personalized and targeted approach in microbiome research.

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Published in May 2024 by Lux Research, this article is reproduced by kind permission of Urbi Pathak | urbi.pathak@luxresearchinc.com