Vivici makes precision-fermented lactoferrin commercially viable with launch of Vivitein LF
Dutch ingredients company Vivici has launched Vivitein™ LF, a lactoferrin ingredient produced via precision fermentation, achieving self-affirmed GRAS status in the United States and opening commercial access to a bioactive that has long been constrained by scarcity and cost.
From “pink gold” to commercial ingredient
Lactoferrin, a multifunctional whey protein sometimes referred to as “pink gold,” has been of considerable interest to product formulators for years. Its low natural abundance in bovine milk, however, has historically limited its commercial viability, keeping supply tight and costs prohibitive for mainstream application.
Vivici, founded in Leiden, the Netherlands in 2023, has addressed this constraint by producing lactoferrin through precision fermentation – a process that bypasses the yield limitations of dairy extraction to deliver a high-purity ingredient at commercial scale. The result, Vivitein LF, is positioned as a functionally versatile protein ingredient for health and wellness product developers.
Vivitein LF sample
Functional profile: gut health, iron metabolism and inflammation
Vivitein LF is described as a high-purity, multi-functional protein with three principal areas of biological activity relevant to consumer health product formulation.
The ingredient supports gut health through modulation of microbiome balance and reinforcement of the gut barrier. It also assists in managing the body’s inflammatory response – a mechanism of particular relevance in the context of chronic low-grade inflammation associated with repeated exercise. Additionally, Vivitein LF facilitates iron mobilisation to improve bioavailability, which the company identifies as a significant opportunity for products targeting women with low iron levels.
Market context and regulatory standing
Vivitein LF has obtained self-affirmed GRAS status in the US, a material step for its use in food and beverage applications in that market. The ingredient is the second to be commercialised under the Vivitein banner, following Vivitein BLG, the company’s beta-lactoglobulin ingredient.
The broader health and wellness food market in which Vivitein LF is positioned was valued at approximately US $938 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US $2.2 trillion by 2032, at a CAGR of 9.8% [1]. Gut health and energy are cited as the health benefits most sought by consumers [2].
Stephan van Sint Fiet, CEO of Vivici, commented: “The question that will define the health and wellness industry for years to come, is how can we help the body’s own system maintain health from within. Innovators who effectively fulfil this unmet consumer demand with innovative and transformative health products leveraging breakthrough proteins, such as Vivitein LF, will succeed.”
Supply network and portfolio expansion
Vivici is actively expanding its manufacturing footprint to establish a global supply network, while building market access across geographies and product segments for the Vivitein portfolio.
- For more information, visit: vivici.com
References
[1] Credence Research, Inc., Health and Wellness Food Market by Type, 2024–2032, 27 November 2025: https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/health-and-wellness-food-market
[2] McKinsey & Company, The Future of Wellness Trends Survey 2025, 29 May 2025: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/future-of-wellness-trends
