• Wilk (formerly Biomilk), an Israel-based developer of cell-cultured human and animal milk, has confirmed it has successfully produced the breast milk protein, lactoferrin, in its laboratory. Lactoferrin, a protein found in human breast milk, is a vital element in providing iron and other nutrients for the growth and development of infants.

• This breakthrough will allow the company to offer breast milk components to formula producers and advance towards commercialization. Further development is likely to allow for the production of human lactoferrin protein in unlimited quantities without the involvement of human or animal sources according to Wilk.

• Lactoferrin has also been identified to provide other health benefits with the ability to boost the natural immune system. The company stated that studies have shown that lactoferrin has been effective in preventing and treating coronary heart disease and coronavirus. However, Wilk ​​did not disclose whether it will offer its proteins to partners outside of the baby formula sector.

<ul><li> Analyst QuickTake: The announcement of this breakthrough comes during the infant formula shortage in the US. The formula shortage, which was triggered by a product recall and exacerbated by supply chain issues relating to Covid-19, rose to more than 40% in May 2022, according to Datasembly’s data analysis. The ability to produce key proteins and elements of human breast milk in a laboratory can help alleviate such issues in the future, provided approval from regulatory bodies such as the FDA is obtained, thus enabling cultivated milk developers to work closely with formula producers.</ul>