PRESS RELEASE
(The information contained in this press release is embargoed until Monday, 18/12 at 2.30 p.m.)
‘Probiotics &Applied Metabolomics’
Major discovery by the Walloon pharmaceutical company Vésale Pharma
Opening up new avenues of research into anti-infective treatments
Brussels, Monday, 18December2017
Vésale Pharma, a leader in research and development into microbiotic solutions, has just opened up an entirely new avenue of R&D into the development of a new generation of alternative solutions to antibiotic and anti-infective treatments thanks to ‘sonication’* technology.
Five years after Intelicaps, a revolutionary technology unique in the world involving the microencapsulation of probiotics,the development of sonication applied to probiotics has enabled Vésale Pharma to make a major advance in the area of anti-infective treatments, in particular in the case of urogenital infections.
A worldwide patent application has just been submitted for this discovery.
In the presence of Mr Jean-Claude Marcourt, Vice-President and Minister for Research of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, and Dr Jean-Pol Warzée, President of the European Scientific League for Probiotics, the results of the research carried out by Vésale Pharma were presented to the press in Brussels on Monday.
“Research (and the resultant patent registration) which undeniably opens up a new avenue in the development of new anti-infective treatments,” according to Dr Jean-Pol Warzée.
Our microbiome is made up of 100,000billion bacteria, living micro-organisms. The balance of this microbial flora is essential for our health. It contributes towards the proper functioning of our digestive system and our immune system. An imbalance here is the source of a great many pathologies. The Belgian and international scientific community takes an active interest in this area, producing between five and six high-level scientific publications on the subject per day.
Probiotics are good bacteria; according to the WHO definition, they are living micro-organisms which, when ingested in sufficient quantities, have a beneficial effect on the health of their host.
Probiotics themselves are made up of tiny molecules, active substances called metabolites, which are in permanent dialogue with our microbiome. Metabolomics, a recent science, is the study of these metabolites. This is the context surrounding the discovery made by Vésale Pharmais.
It has been discovered and demonstrated that these substances from bacteria, obtained by ‘sonication’, play a role in excluding pathogens similar to that of antibiotics and anti-infective treatments.
“This is a major step forwards, not only for research into the microbiome (and the development of probiotic products or products based on probiotics) but also in the context of the development of new solutions alongside antibiotics and other anti-infective treatments,” declares Jehan Liénart, CEO and Executive Chairman of Vésale Pharma.In fact, our teams have brought to light a brand new protection – and defence – mechanism.
The patent registered by Vésale Pharma relates to an initial application of this discovery with a probiotic strain, Lactobacillus Crispatus.
“By breaking down Lactobacillus Crispatus using sonication, explains Mr Johan Quintens, Chief Scientific Officer of Vésale Pharma, we obtain active substances whose antibacterial activity has been measured by confronting them with a strain called Garnderella. Garnderella is a harmful bacteria that is responsible for urogenital infections such as cystitis in women. Experiments have shown that these metabolites obtained by sonication have exceptional and remarkable properties (backed up by figures) for providing protection against Garnderella,” he continues.
Garnderella is responsible for some 5.5million urogenital infections per year in Belgium alone. One woman in five is affected. Around 1,750billion infectious episodes per year are recorded throughout the world. These infections are currently mainly treated with antibiotics.
“Thanks to this discovery of the anti-pathogenic activity of metabolites obtained by sonication, metabolomics opens up a whole new avenue of research into the development of anti-infective solutions,” declared the founder of Vésale Pharma in conclusion.
* Sonication is exposure to ultrasound waves. Applied to bacteria, high-frequency sonication induces their lysis.
** Metabolomics is the analysis of the whole of very small molecules in a living system called metabolites. The term metabolomics comes from ‘metabolome’, which refers to all the metabolites contained in a biological system, an organism, type of cell or biological fluid. The metabolome represents the final response of an organism to an adverse genetic change, a pathology, exposure to a toxic substance or any environmental cause. (Sources: in particular; ; , etc.)
About Vésale Pharma
Vésale Pharma is based in Noville s/Mehaigne, in the province of Namur. On 3June2016, the company opened its new R&D and pilot industrialisation site for Intelicaps in GHLIN; it currently employs a total of 46people.
A pioneer in the field of research and innovation in probiotics, the company records a turnover approximately 20% higher than in 2014, over 23% of which is allocated to R&D every year (20researchers). Established in 1997 and active in medical representation, the Namur-based company refocused its activities on research and development into innovative probiotic solutions in 2008. Vésale Pharma now sells its products in over 20countries throughout the world and holds six worldwide patents, in particular the Intelicaps® patent, revolutionary technology that is unique in the world involving the microencapsulation of probiotics. The company now markets its product range via a network of agents and distributors. These products are available exclusively in pharmacies and cover a range of therapeutic categories including dermatology, gastroenterology, women’s health, immunity and pregnancy. Last October, the company set up an R&D subsidiary in Texas on the site of the Texas A&M University at College Station, near Houston. It has just signed a major distribution contract in India during the most recent state visit.
Contact: Eric Poskin, Strategy & Corporate Director, 0477/205 771 –