Novonesis announces Health Canada go-ahead for certain functional claims of Novonesis’ probiotic strain CLEPIUS L. plantarum; ingredient is marketed to help with certain symptoms and quality of life in people with IBS

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – March 11, 2024.  Few health challenges are as unpleasant and discomforting as those associated with gastrointestinal health. Who has not experienced abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements, flatulence or bloating and occasional loose stools? According to WHO, around one third of the global population experiences digestive discomfort at some stage in their life. IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, is one of the most common functional bowel disorders with an estimated prevalence of 4-9%¹, associated with ongoing gastrointestinal discomfort.

Supplementation with selected probiotic strains may benefit gastrointestinal health, but it can prove difficult to find the needle in the haystack. Now the Canadian health authority, Health Canada, has authorized the below functional claims for Novonesis’ probiotic strain CLEPIUS™ L. plantarum, Novonesis being the new combination of Chr. Hansen and Novozymes:

Crossing over to the ‘gut-brain axis’, CLEPIUS™ L. plantarum is further authorized to

• Help alleviate perceived stress in adults with irritable bowel syndrome.  

• Help to improve irritable bowel syndrome-related quality of life in adults. 

The gut-brain axis has become one of the most cutting-edge areas of research over recent years, diving into how the fascinating interplay between the brain, gut and microbiome can impact physical health as well as mental well-being. It is well-known, for example, that people living with IBS frequently report feeling sad, embarrassed and self-conscious, which impacts their quality of life and could even limit participation in social activities².

Science-backed, quality-stamped

We are very pleased that CLEPIUS™, one of our newest probiotic strains has received official Canadian health claims. The strain is part of the strong clinically documented product portfolio from Novonesis, our new company name from the merger between Novozymes and Chr. Hansen,

says Jakob D. Rasmussen, Vice President Human Health.

Officially registered health claims will drive increased interest in our clinically documented probiotics, as they provide guidance to consumers in making informed health choices and selecting the right probiotics for themselves. It is our experience that such official functional claims reinforce consumer confidence that the products are of high quality, safe and effective, also when it comes to influencing psychological distress related to digestive challenges, Jakob notes.

His colleague, Niklas Larsson, Head of Scientific Affairs Human Health, points to the quality stamp of the science behind the products:

We are excited about the strong science behind this probiotic strain, which resulted in a fast recognition by Health Canada. It is not only putting a quality stamp on the science that backs CLEPIUS™, but also adding credibility to our offering in the emerging field of the gut-brain axis

states Niklas adding that CLEPIUS™ shows significant health benefits already after four weeks for both gut health and perceived stress, at 1 billion CFU a day (1 billion live probiotic bacteria contained in a serving).

^{1) Oka et al., Lancet Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2020; 5: 908-917 
2) International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD). IBS patients: Their illness experience and unmet needs. An online study. 2009.}