Nestlé has announced a multi-year partnership with Helaina, a New York-based startup that develops proteins through precision fermentation. The collaboration will focus on understanding bioactive proteins and their role in early-life development for infant formula. Helaina's first product is Effera, a lactoferrin bioidentical to the human form found in breast milk and colostrum. The Swiss company, one of the world's largest infant-formula manufacturers, said the partnership forms part of its open innovation strategy to deepen scientific understanding whilst gaining access to emerging technologies. Helaina founder Laura Katz said the company is focused on manufacturing bioactives at scale with clinical credibility. No further details on the contract length were disclosed.

Nestlé partners with Helaina to advance bioactive protein research in infant nutrition. Nestlé and Helaina, the US-based nutrition biotech company, have formed a multi-year strategic innovation collaboration focused on understanding new bioactive proteins and their role in early-life development. The partnership combines Nestlé's 30+ years of research in human milk oligosaccharides and bioactives with Helaina's biotechnology capabilities in manufacturing human-identical proteins. Helaina's first ingredient, effera, is the world's first human-identical lactoferrin - a bioactive that supports iron balance, immune function, and gut health, with superior bioavailability to cow-based alternatives. Founded in 2019 by food scientist Laura Katz, the company has positioned itself at the intersection of precision fermentation and maternal/infant nutrition. "We believe new bioactive proteins present a significant innovation in nutrition right now," said Katz. "At Helaina, we're focused on manufacturing these bioactives at scale with clinical credibility and together with Nestlé we can uncover new developments that advance early-life nutrition." The collaboration is part of Nestlé's broader open innovation strategy to translate scientific insights into nutritional solutions, particularly around interactions between key nutrients, the gut microbiome, and the immune system during early life.