Biome Australia Limited has announced encouraging results from functional studies on its probiotic strain BMB18, highlighting its potential to modulate immune responses, reduce inflammation, and support intestinal health. These findings pave the way for targeted clinical research and product innovation.
- BMB18 probiotic strain shows immune modulation and inflammation reduction
- Demonstrated antioxidant activity and improved intestinal barrier integrity
- Findings support potential applications in chronic intestinal and inflammatory diseases
- Data to guide future clinical trials and commercial product development
- Biome’s strategic Vision 27 includes BMB18 as a key growth driver
Positive Functional Characterisation of BMB18
Biome Australia Limited (ASX: BIO), a leader in microbiome health innovation, has released promising results from core functional characterisation studies of its proprietary probiotic strain, Lactobacillus plantarum BMB18. Conducted by a key research partner, these in vitro studies employed intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) and immune cell (PBMC) models to assess the strain’s biological activity.
The data revealed that BMB18 effectively modulates immune responses, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines while enhancing immune-regulating factors. Additionally, the strain demonstrated significant antioxidant properties by lowering reactive oxygen species, and importantly, it improved intestinal barrier integrity by restoring tight junction function and reducing permeability.
Implications for Health and Therapeutic Applications
These functional attributes suggest BMB18 could offer therapeutic benefits in conditions characterised by immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and food intolerances. The antioxidant effects also hint at broader applications in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders where oxidative stress plays a key role.
Biome’s Managing Director, Blair Vega Norfolk, emphasised the significance of these findings, noting that the data provide critical insights to inform future clinical research and expand the commercial pipeline. The company envisions BMB18 as a cornerstone of its Vision 27 strategy, aiming to develop innovative probiotic products that address systemic health challenges.
Next Steps and Market Potential
Following the successful initial validation and intellectual property transfer completed in late 2024, these positive functional results mark a pivotal milestone in BMB18’s development journey. Biome plans to leverage this data to design targeted clinical trials that will further elucidate the strain’s efficacy and safety profile in human populations.
With a growing global interest in microbiome-based therapies and evidence-based probiotics, Biome’s advancements with BMB18 position the company to capitalize on expanding market opportunities. The strain’s multifunctional properties could enable new product formulations or enhance existing offerings within Biome’s Activated Probiotics® range.
While these findings are encouraging, the company remains cautious, acknowledging that further clinical validation is essential before commercialisation. Investors and industry observers will be watching closely as Biome progresses through the next phases of research and development.
Bottom Line?
Biome’s BMB18 strain emerges as a promising candidate to reshape probiotic therapies, but clinical proof remains the next hurdle.
Questions in the middle?
- What specific clinical indications will Biome target first with BMB18?
- How soon can investors expect results from upcoming human trials?
- What is the competitive landscape for probiotics with similar immune-modulating profiles?