Pharming wins grant to develop lactoferrin as a functional food

Collaboration | Grant

Pharming Group NV has begun a two-year project to develop human lactoferrin (hLF) as a functional food for managing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The aim is to demonstrate safety and effectiveness of hLF as a component of functional foods for maintaining remission periods in patients with IBD.

Pharming is collaborating with NIZO food research BV, the Maastricht University Medical Centre, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism in Maastricht and the Dutch technology commercialisation body, TNO. A €400,000 subsidy has been received from FND, an innovation programme of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

It is hypothesised that as hLF has anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties, it could provide an effective nutritional support for IBD-patients, potentially preventing or delaying periods of relapse of the disease. Pharming’s human lactoferrin might also be beneficial in alleviating or preventing symptoms of other chronic or acute intestinal diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome.