OptiBiotix Health Plc poised to capture the expanding human microbiome market

Summary

• The human microbiome market is projected to surge from US$ 894 million in 2025 to US$ 1,598 million by 2028 at a CAGR of 21.3 per cent.
• OptiBiotix has already launched various products, which are successful and have been generating good revenue and profit.
• The company is expanding globally, while witnessing organic sales growth in the existing market.

OptiBiotix Health Plc (LON: OPTI), an award-winning life sciences company, is revolutionising one of the most progressive areas of biotechnological research, the human microbiome. The company, which runs on the principle of “Better Science, Better Health”, identifies and develops microbial strains, compounds and formulations that can be used in food ingredients and supplements with potential health benefits.

OptiBiotix is working on a range of technologies, which modulate the human microbiome to prevent and manage diseases such as obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes. The company has already launched various products in the market, which have tasted success and have been generating good revenue and profit. It has also signed manufacturing and distribution agreements with eighty partners for the production and distribution of its functional ingredients, expanding its global reach to Brazil, Japan, China, South Africa and many Southeast Asian countries.

(Image source: Company Website)

Why is human microbiome important?

The human microbiome is a collection of all the microbiota that reside both inside and outside our bodies. To be precise, a human microbiota consists of 10-100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells.

To understand the concept, let us start with microbes, which are crucial to our planet’s ecosystem.  These tiny little organisms are not visible to the naked eye, but these microbial communities are found everywhere, from the soil, plants, oceans, wildlife areas and even in the food we consume. They are crucial for the ecosystem and play a major role in recycling carbon and other nutrients in the soil.

Humans host single-cell organisms such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Some of these microorganisms are pathogens but the vast majority are important in the productions of proteins and enzymes that impact on human’s metabolism and physiology and subsequently human health. Contact between humans and such useful microbial cells is critical to good health.

There are many complications or conditions, ranging from anxiety to obesity, that are linked to microbes that thrive inside our bodies. Also, there is a strong connection between the gut microbiome and brain that communicate in a bi-directional manner, shows latest research. Scientists have also discovered that one of the most important connections in the human body is the vagus nerve, which is an essential part of the gut-brain axis. When it comes to issues of the gut-brain axis, both prebiotics and probiotics have been found to play a significant role.

Also Read: OptiBiotix Health Plc’s robust earnings strengthens the case for market revaluation

Unexplored market potential

The human microbiome, which further gets segmented into prebiotics, probiotics, diagnostic tests, drugs, and other products, is of strategic interest to pharmaceutical, food, health and wellbeing companies, globally. The segment is forecast to become one of the world’s fastest growth areas, according to a report from Markets and Markets. The report projects the human microbiome market to surge from US$ 894 million in 2025 to US$ 1,598 million by 2028 at a CAGR of 21.3 per cent.

The major driver of growth in this area is the growing interest in the development of human microbiome therapy. However, the report has pointed towards lack of expertise and inadequate research that could impede the market’s growth.

The report has termed the North American region as the fastest-growing in the human microbiome market, with the highest CAGR for the period of 2025-2028.

The potential lies in the fact that consumers are increasingly becoming aware about the microbiome market and are developing an understanding about it. With market experts predicting that the opportunities open to microbiome development companies will range in trillions of dollars, the prospects are bright. The growing number of collaborations between market players is only adding to the prospects.

Well-placed to capture the opportunities

OptiBiotix Health has developed a range of technologies and products to modulate the human microbiome for controlling diseases. Its products are designed to improve health and wellbeing and support prevention and management of chronic lifestyle disorders.

OptiBiotix, in its latest study conducted by the University of Roehampton, demonstrated that its patented weight management ingredient, SlimBiome®, greatly improved mood and gut microbiome composition. It portrays the strength of the company in the segment and presents an opportunity for food and drink and supplement brands and manufacturers as well as for pharmaceutical companies, which are looking to capture the growing market opportunity by expanding their commercial portfolio with mood-boosting prebiotic and probiotic ingredients.

The company is progressing with a two-pronged strategy. While its first-generation products offer relatively quick access to the market, its second-generation products are targeting potentially larger market opportunities, which would deliver strong returns in the future.

OptiBiotix Health delivered strong revenue growth last year (up 103%) and is likely to continue the momentum in the years to come, as it has been extensively looking for global expansion along with organic sales growth in the existing market. For shareholders, there is another opportunity for value unlocking in the form of its holdings in SkinBioTherapeutics of which it holds a 23.2% shareholding.