“Revolutionizing Collagen: Geltor Unveils PrimaColl, a Biodesigned, Animal-Free Protein for Diverse Dietary Needs”
When Geltor unveiled the complete development of PrimaColl, the biodesigned protein manufacturer announced a potentially revolutionary ingredient. This animal-free collagen can be consumed by individuals with dietary restrictions or religious beliefs that prevent them from using traditionally sourced collagen, which often comes from pigs. Geltor claims that PrimaColl is also more potent and pure than animal-derived collagen. Now, Geltor is emphasizing the genuine potential of this ingredient. While it’s one thing for a company to leverage technology to create a promising ingredient, it can only make a real impact if it can be produced on a large scale. This partnership with Arxada demonstrates that Geltor can achieve that scale by collaborating with the right partner.
Geltor’s CEO and co-founder, Alex Lorestani, expressed excitement in a written statement about the enhanced availability of a biodesigned ingredient like PrimaColl. “Our team has been consistently scaling up our technology and manufacturing capabilities since our initial proof of concept in 2016, and we’ve merely begun to explore the possibilities that biodesign can offer for the greater availability of new materials,” Lorestani stated. “The commercial introduction of PrimaColl signifies that it’s no longer just a dream, but a reality, and consumers can anticipate seeing biodesigned ingredients on the shelves of their favorite products.” Throughout its history, Geltor has focused on creating optimized versions of animal-derived proteins through precision fermentation. Recognizing the rising demand for collagen in various food and beverage applications, Geltor secured $91.3 million in a Series B funding round in 2020.
Recently, the company has expanded its efforts beyond collaborating with Arxada on the commercial production of PrimaColl. Geltor’s portfolio also features three proteins designed for skincare, and the company announced plans to introduce several more biodesigned ingredients this year. Partnerships like the one between Geltor and Arxada are not only common but essential. Successful precision fermentation companies in the food and beverage sector typically establish similar collaborations with larger firms that have extensive fermentation expertise. For instance, animal-free dairy company Perfect Day has scaled its operations significantly, with its proteins now appearing in various products through a manufacturing agreement with Archer Daniels Midland. Similarly, The Every Company (formerly known as Clara Foods), which employs precision fermentation to produce pepsin and proteins found in egg whites, has a development and distribution agreement with Ingredion. They are also working with AB InBev’s venture and innovation arm, ZX Ventures, to explore scaling up their precision fermentation processes.
In the future, companies like Geltor may develop their own fermentation facilities. However, the design and construction of such facilities can be prohibitively expensive, making partnerships like the one with Arxada crucial for bringing these ingredients to market. Such collaborations also significantly contribute to the realization of company-owned manufacturing facilities. By forming production partnerships, companies can quickly introduce their ingredients to the market—resulting in a faster path to profitability and a compelling product to attract investors, encouraging them to fund the development of those facilities. Moreover, as these companies innovate, they can explore the potential for biodesigned ingredients that could offer nutritional benefits, such as calcium citrate malate equivalent to calcium, enhancing their appeal in various applications.
