Unveiled last week (Sept. 18), the facility in Darmstadt, Germany, will be the hub for approximately 170 employees focused on R&D and production of natural health solutions.
Displaying the company’s increasing focus on the supplements sector, the new lab features advanced equipment and specialized capabilities for processing herbal extracts, including ethanolic liquid extracts and probiotics.
It also houses various technologies that support rapid prototyping and foster natural innovation across Bayer Consumer Health categories and brands.
“This facility is a testament to Bayer’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for natural health solutions, building on a 60-year legacy of leadership in phytomedicines,” said Thorsten Umland, head of digestive health research and development at Bayer. “The lab will facilitate the development of herbal and natural-based solutions that are validated by science and trusted by consumers, ensuring that Bayer remains at the forefront of phytomedicine innovation.”
The R&D team will focus on innovating in digestive health, metabolic health, stress, immunity, and cough and cold, where the firm says there is a growing demand for natural solutions.
“This new lab is a game changer for our business and our team,” said Chloe Picot, site lead at Darmstadt. “It gives our world-class team in-house prototyping capabilities, allowing us to innovate more efficiently and quickly.”
The hub will also open up collaboration opportunities.
“This lab will facilitate collaboration on innovation with a variety of partners,” said Diana Scholz, head of communications consumer health at Bayer. “Designed to fuel the innovation pipeline, the lab is expected to expand partnerships that will accelerate the development of new products while fostering a dynamic environment for sharing ideas and technologies. This will ultimately drive greater innovation across the board.”
Innovation portfolio
Backed by more than 20 scientific studies involving more than 7,000 patients, Iberogast is Bayer’s flagship plant-based supplement for digestive health.
Available in liquid drops and softgels, the product contains a proprietary blend of six herbal ingredients—Iberis amara, German chamomile, caraway, lemon balm, licorice and peppermint.
In a strategic move, Bayer recently acquired Natsana, a company behind several top-selling Amazon herbal supplement brands: Nature Love, Natural Elements and Feel Natural.
These brands offer a wide range of plant-based supplements, including turmeric, ashwagandha, milk thistle, elderberry, ginger and green tea extract.
The move signaled the Bayer’s deepening interest beyond traditional pharmaceuticals.
The firm developed the TruBiotics brand, a range of probiotics and prebiotics designed to support digestive and immune health, before selling the solutions to the microbiome health focused biotech firm PanTheryx.
Other products in Bayer’s supplements portfolio include Berocca and Supradyn multivitamin energy effervescent tabs and Elevit preconception and pregnancy multivitamins.
