Italian probiotic and postbiotic manufacturer Probiotical is highlighting two consumer product launches targeting the vaginal and nasal microbiomes, as brands increasingly explore applications for microbial ingredients beyond traditional digestive health.
The company has supplied microbial ingredients for Daré Bioscience’s DARE to RESTORE Flora Sync LF5, a vaginal probiotic capsule and Wizard Wellness’ range of steroid- and antihistamine-free allergy products, which includes probiotic oral strips, nasal rinses and sprays.
Targeted microbiome applications
The launches, the company said, illustrate two different approaches to targeted microbiome formulation.
Daré’s Flora Sync LF5 uses a single strain, Limosilactobacillus fermentum LF5, delivered directly to the vaginal environment.
The product is designed around a three-day protocol and is supported by a 100-woman randomised controlled clinical trial published in Frontiers in Microbiology in 2024.
Daré reports that 96% of participants achieved vaginal microbiome balance within three days, with 90% maintaining balance at two weeks.
Wizard Wellness, meanwhile, applies a multi-strain approach to nasal microbiome and seasonal allergy support.
Its products use the company’s Nasalbiome and Activated Saline technologies and are now sold through major US retailers including Walmart, Target and CVS, according to the brand.
Formulation challenges
For ingredient suppliers, the developments highlight the formulation challenges involved in moving into more targeted microbiome applications.
Probiotical says its collection contains around 2000 microbial strains, with more than 60 currently in production.
Its 2024 sustainability report also lists more than 950 finished products and a presence in 75 countries, underlining the scale of its ingredient and product-development operations.
The company says its R&D process evaluates strain identity and functionality alongside compatibility between strains and with other actives, dosage, processing conditions, shelf-life viability and stability within the finished-product format and packaging.
This is particularly relevant as formulators move towards multi-strain products and combine probiotics with prebiotics, botanicals, minerals and other functional ingredients, while also seeking delivery formats suited to specific consumer needs.
Expanding in North America
Founded in Italy in 1985, Probiotical has roots in lactic acid bacteria research and has expanded from microbial strain research into probiotic ingredient production and finished-product development.
The company has also strengthened its North American commercial operation with the appointment of Keith Dunne as Director of Market Expansion — North America.
Dunne previously held senior commercial and operational roles at American River Nutrition.
According to Probiotical, its development model is intended to give emerging brands access to strain-selection expertise, microbial research, manufacturing and scale-up capabilities.
“Probiotical’s ‘white-glove’ development model supports customers throughout the product development journey,” said Dunne.
Our integrated model gives emerging brands access to the microbial research, scientific personnel and manufacturing capabilities typically associated with much larger organisations, along with the expertise in strain selection, multi-strain compatibility, stability, delivery and scale-up needed to translate an idea into a differentiated commercial product.
Together, the launches reflect the broader application of probiotics and postbiotics in consumer health, with microbiome-focused products being developed around specific anatomical sites, health needs and delivery occasions rather than a generalised gut-health proposition.
