Bio-foodtech company Wilk has been awarded an exclusive US patent for cell-based milk production methods and systems, which includes breast milk. The move is set to accelerate milk production that does not require plants or animals, paving the way for meeting sustainability demands. 

“This patent means a lot because it protects some technical aspects related to the system used for the production of cultured milk,” Dr. Nurit Argov-Argaman, co-founder and chief technical officer, tells NutritionInsight.

The patent approval for Methods and Systems for in-Vitro Milk Production makes the Israeli-based company an exclusive patent holder for research methods and technologies for cultured milk and breast milk production.

“This patent approval is the culmination of years of intensive investment in R&D. It displays confidence in Wilk’s processes for producing cultured cell-based milk,” says Tomer Aizen, CEO of Wilk. 

“This will help bring us one step closer to the ultimate goal of revolutionizing the dairy industry.”

Formula made of breast milk?
Resulting benefits of the technology will include the ability to produce real breast milk from human mammary cells and milk without the need for animals. This will enable systems and processes that simplify the separation of milk components from the cultured cells in a manner that will maximize efficiency, says the company.

“Where infant formula is concerned, current formulations are made of ingredients from plants and milk from cows, sheep or goats, which can be highly processed. The manufacturing results in a formulation that lacks the unique structures of milk ingredients, the property which is responsible for many of the health benefits of breast milk,” Argov-Argaman adds.

“What we are going to be able to provide to formula producers are real breast milk components to make formulas as close to real breast milk – with all of its health benefits for infants – as possible. This way, we guarantee that nutritional, safe and healthy products are available to babies worldwide.”

As part of the process, both human and animal mammary gland tissue is collected. Milk-producing cells are isolated from other cells and then cultivated. Cells are grown in a bioreactor creating an ideal and controlled environment, leading to the production of sterile and fully personalized milk ingredients.

Spearheading sustainable technology
Wilk’s technology is set to enable the sustainable and cost-effective manufacture of real cultured milk – with all its components and ingredients – in a way that reduces greenhouse emissions and preserves natural resources.

“Cell-based breast milk is a relatively new concept. We need to understand the complexity and years of understanding that lie behind it. To the best of our knowledge, cell-based breast milk is not yet available in the market, and this concept is just emerging,” Argov-Argaman notes.

The cell-based infant formula space is growing, with 108Labs is building a “Cellufacturing” facility for cell-based human milk, targeting a ton of milk production per day in the first stage.

US biotechnology company Biomilq in October secured US$21 million in an oversubscribed Series A financing it aims to use to commercialize cell-cultured human milk.

Future innovation
According to Argov-Argaman, Wilk’s objective is to have its ingredients incorporated into final consumer products manufactured by infant formula companies and dairy manufacturers. 

“Our proprietary technology is based on more than ten years of research, and with this patent, we can solidify our processes and continue down the path of making milk ingredients available to all in a completely sustainable manner,” Argov-Argaman adds. 

Wilk, formerly BioMilk, launched operations in 2020. 

It is submitting additional applications for patent approvals, including one for Methods for Increasing the Production of Milk in a Cultured System. The request focuses on methods for growing cells in a culture and overcoming the factors that currently limit the level of secretion to increase production of essential milk components.

(origin)Food Ingredients First