Nūmi, a startup developing cell-based breast milk to replace suboptimal bovine infant formula, plans to initially launch its product in the US due to a more welcoming regulatory environment for novel food innovations.
In a stride towards enhancing human health and nutrition, Nūmi, a burgeoning biotech startup company launched in 2022, is recreating the intricate composition of breast milk in vitro. By mimicking the mammary gland’s natural processes, Nūmi aims to deliver next-generation nutrition for babies and lightly disrupt the pediatrics industry with a new option to propose to expecting mothers.
Breast milk is renowned for its complex composition, boasting over 1,500 bioactive molecules that contribute to its status as nature’s ultimate nutritional source. Among the key benefits of the lab-grown approach are enhanced immunity, regulated satiety, and improved brain development. The inclusion of lactoferrin, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), and antibodies fortifies the body’s defense mechanisms. Additionally, the proteins and fatty acids found in breast milk not only regulate food intake but also support holistic health, potentially mitigating risks of diseases like diabetes. Crucial nutrients such as taurine, DHA, and ARA are essential for optimal brain and neural development, further highlighting the comprehensive advantages of Nūmi’s product which takes the molecular makeup of breastmilk into account.
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Situational Benefits and the Growth Procedure
Nūmi’s mission is to offer a natural alternative when breastfeeding isn’t possible, emphasizing that breastfeeding should be a shared responsibility. This approach heralds a new era of parenthood, grounded in equity, freedom, and choice.
The mammary gland is nature’s marvel, synthesizing a nourishing fluid vital for newborns. Nūmi replicates this magic through advanced cell culture techniques. The process begins with isolating mammary cells, sourced ethically through collaborations with hospitals and lactariums. These cells are then cultivated under optimal conditions, simulating the body’s hormonal cues to produce milk. Once cultivated, the milk is collected using state-of-the-art automated production lines. Finally, a multi-step purification process ensures the milk is of the highest quality, involving membranes, extraction methods, and chromatography techniques.
Nūmi’s lab-grown breast milk stands to redefine health standards globally. Developed under stringent FDA and EFSA guidelines, the product promises unparalleled safety and efficacy. Compared to traditional cow milk-based infant formulas, Nūmi’s product offers significantly higher concentrations of crucial components such as lactoferrin, oligosaccharides, taurine, and long-chain polyunsaturated fats like DHA and ARA.
Nūmi is not only focused on advancing nutrition but also on fostering a supportive and innovative work environment. The company offers competitive packages and avenues for personal and professional growth, ensuring the holistic well-being of its team members. Nūmi is poised to make significant strides in the fields of biotechnology, personal health, and women’s health. With its cutting-edge research and commitment to making the benefits of breast milk accessible to all, Nūmi is pioneering a new standard of health that could transform nutrition for generations to come.
Replacing Suboptimal Bovine Infant Formula with Nūmi’s Cell-Based Breast Milk
Nūmi is located in Suresnes, France, Nūmi has a unique approach to infant nutrition by developing cell-based breast milk, aiming to replace traditional bovine infant formula. Co-founded by Eugénie Pezé-Heidsieck and Eden Banon, Nūmi is leveraging cutting-edge cell culture technology to reproduce human milk from mammary cells. This initiative addresses a critical gap in infant nutrition, providing a more comprehensive alternative to cow’s milk-based formulas, which often fall short of meeting the full spectrum of infants’ developmental needs.
The inadequacies of bovine milk formulas are well-documented. Despite their widespread use, these formulas fail to replicate the complexity and nutritional richness of human breast milk. Human milk contains over 1,500 bioactive molecules, each playing a vital role in supporting infant development. These molecules contribute to crucial functions such as brain and retina development, satiety regulation, and immune system enhancement. Cow’s milk, on the other hand, lacks many of these essential components, leading to suboptimal nutrition for infants.
Pezé-Heidsieck and Banon emphasize that the unique composition of breast milk is irreplaceable by cow’s milk. Human milk is specifically tailored to meet the needs of human infants, containing the precise balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates required for optimal growth and development. It also includes a diverse array of immune-boosting antibodies, growth factors, and enzymes that are absent or present in much lower concentrations in bovine milk.
Nūmi’s cell-based approach seeks to bridge this nutritional gap by creating a product that closely mimics the natural composition of human breast milk. This innovation is particularly significant for families who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, providing them with an option that supports the health and well-being of both mother and child. By offering a superior alternative to bovine formulas, Nūmi aims to set a new standard in infant nutrition, ensuring that every baby has access to the best possible start in life.
READ an interview with the co-founders in Food Navigator.
Challenges in Pioneering Cell-Based Breast Milk
Nūmi’s ambitious venture into developing cell-based breast milk faces significant challenges, particularly in a highly regulated market. As with all innovators in the field of cell culture, scaling up production presents both financial and technical hurdles. What works in the lab must be carefully adjusted for larger-scale production, requiring substantial investment and technical expertise. On the financial front, Nūmi has made promising strides by securing a €3 million pre-seed round funded by Heartcore Capital, HCVC, and Financière Saint-James, providing critical support for their scaling efforts.
Regulation is another major challenge for Nūmi, especially given that cell-based milk is classified as a novel food. In Europe, this means obtaining pre-market approval from regulatory agencies, a process that can be lengthy and complex. Infant nutrition, being one of the most strictly regulated categories, adds an extra layer of scrutiny and compliance requirements. Recognizing this, Nūmi’s co-founders are proactively collaborating with regulatory experts in the field of novel foods to navigate these hurdles effectively.
The regulatory landscape in Europe lags behind more progressive regions like Singapore and the US, where cell-based meat and precision fermentation-derived dairy have already passed official food safety tests. Consequently, Nūmi anticipates launching initially in the US, where the regulatory framework is more welcoming to innovations in this field. “The US is more welcoming of innovations in this field and has set up a more defined regulatory landscape for innovations like ours, while Europe is still evolving,” note the co-founders. This strategic move will help Nūmi gain a foothold in the market while continuing to push for regulatory advancements in Europe.
