Press Release: Biofortis Contract Research Opens New Headquarters in France

Press release: Mérieux NutriSciences Corporation

Nantes, France March 8, 2012 – Mérieux NutriSciences Corporation advances public health by offering a unique combination of scientific services in food safety, quality and nutrition through its three business units - Silliker, Biofortis and Bioagri.

Biofortis, dedicated to innovation in nutrition, announced today the opening of a new Global Headquarters and Research Center in Saint-Herblain, near Nantes in France.  A pioneer in human clinical nutrition trials, Biofortis provides companies with world-class services, including intestinal flora research programs, biomarkers development and sensory analysis. ISO 9001-2008 accredited, this Biofortis facility provides customers with high level R&D services in cooperation with state-of-the-art operations in Chicago (USA), Shanghai (Asia), and San Paolo (Brazil). 

“Since its inception, Institute Mérieux has been committed to medicine and global public health.  With the emergence of new risks linked to food safety, an increased understanding of links between infectious disease, metabolism and nutrition, and major scientific progress in metagenome, the contributions of Mérieux NutriSciences hold significance on a worldwide scale,” stated Mr. Alain Mérieux, President of Institut Mérieux.

“Biofortis is integral to Mérieux NutriSciences’ focus on innovation for nutrition.  This major investment in Saint-Herblain provides us with additional means to serve our international clientele and become the reference partner for R&D teams in the food sector,” noted Mr. Philippe Sans, President and CEO of Mérieux NutriSciences.

“Since the creation of Biofortis a decade ago, the company has become a leading innovator in nutrition.  With over 300 clinical studies completed, multi-centric projects in different countries, a Central Lab and best-in- class customized projects in intestinal flora research, our global expertise is largely concentrated in the food, pharmaceutical or medical nutrition sectors, » said Dr. Michel du Peloux, Senior Vice President Mérieux NutriSciences and Head of Biofortis.

The 2300m² global headquarters and research center encompasses the four Biofortis service offerings:  clinical studies, contract research activities, Central Lab, and sensory and consumer studies. Seventy people are employed at the Saint-Herblain location, where studies will be conducted in close collaboration with Biofortis China, Brazil and USA with either a European or global scope. 

The building is organized with a dedicated area for sensory studies, consumer testing and clinical trials, and another space reserved for microbiology, molecular biology and research laboratory activities. Seventy employees are employed at the Saint-Herblain location, which   is certified to GCP (Good Clinical practices), COFRAC (French Accreditation committee) and ISO (International Organisation for Standardization) standards.