Probi’s dietary supplement for gut health to be rolled out in Latin America by Merck

Probi’s partner Institut Rosell has signed an agreement giving the German pharmaceutical company, Merck KGaA, an exclusive right in the pharmacy channel to sell a dietary supplement based on Probi’s bacteria, Lp299v, in 13 countries in South and Central America. The first product launches will take place in 2010 and further markets will then be added gradually when regulatory approvals are granted.

“Merck’s Consumer Health Care product Bion Transit, which is based on Probi’s bacteria Lp299v, is already on the market in France, Chile and Belgium. We are proud of our co¬operation with Merck, one of the world’s most renowned pharmaceutical companies, and look forward to extending our co-operation to include these new important markets”, says Michael Oredsson, CEO at Probi. Mexico, Argentina and Brazil are the most important markets covered by the agreement, which also includes Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic). Merck KGaA is the oldest pharmaceutical- and chemistry company in the world, and was established already in 1668. Today, the company has a turnover of 7.5 billion Euros and has 32,000 employees in 59 countries. Merck’s Consumer Health Care French subsidiary (Merck Médication Familiale) has established itself as a strong player in probiotic dietary supplements. France is currently the largest market for Probi’s dietary supplements. Merck’s launches of Bion Transit in Chile and Belgium have also been successful. Dietary supplements based on Probi’s probiotics are now sold or are in the process of being launched in some 40 countries worldwide.