Frequently asked questions

Learn more about Inbiose and our HMO ingredients, applications, health benefits and technology platform. ​

Human milk oligosaccharides are complex, non-digestible carbohydrates found naturally in milk. After lactose and lipids, HMOs are the third most abundant solid component of human milk, with over 200 unique structures identified to date. Though largely resistant to upper gut digestion, HMOs travel intact to the large intestine where they selectively feed beneficial gut bacteria, support immune development, and may contribute to cognitive development. Until recently, their structural complexity made them virtually unavailable at commercial scale, but advances in precision fermentation have changed that.

HMOs are not simply prebiotics. They are structurally complex, multifunctional bioactive carbohydrates, each with a distinct mode of action that extends well beyond the gut. Their biological activity spans several interconnected systems: shaping the microbiome with precision, reinforcing the gut barrier, modulating immune responses, and interacting directly with host cells and pathogens. A single HMO structure may act as a precision prebiotic, a decoy receptor for pathogens, and an immune modulator, while also serving as a source of bioactive metabolites.

No. While the most extensive evidence base relates to early life nutrition, emerging research suggests that HMOs may have relevant benefits across the lifespan. Areas of growing scientific interest include gut health, immune resilience, metabolic health, joint health, and healthy ageing in adults, as well as applications in pet nutrition and animal feed.

Secretor status refers to a genetically determined trait controlled by the FUT2 gene. Women who carry an active FUT2 gene, known as secretor+ individuals, produce milk with a distinctly different HMO profile compared to non-secretor individuals, most notably with high concentrations of 2'FL. Approximately 80% of women globally are secretor+. Non-secretors produce little to no 2'FL, making other HMOs such as 3FL and LNT particularly relevant for this population.

2'-Fucosyllactose is the most abundant HMO in secretor+ milk and the first HMO to receive regulatory approval and enter commercial production. It carries the largest body of publicly available clinical evidence of any single HMO and is widely regarded as the cornerstone of any HMO formulation strategy.

Unlike most HMOs, whose concentrations are highest in colostrum and decline as lactation progresses, 3FL is the only HMO that increases in concentration throughout lactation, reaching its highest levels in mature and late milk. It is also particularly abundant in non-secretor milk, making it the primary fucosylated HMO for approximately 20% of the population.

3'SL and 6'SL are structural isomers, i.e. they share the same monosaccharide composition but differ in the position of the sialic acid linkage. 6'SL is the more abundant of the two in milk, while 3'SL carries a more specific body of scientific literature, particularly with respect to cognitive development and the gut-brain axis.

LNT is a type-1 neutral core HMO particularly abundant in colostrum and non-secretor milk, with a well-established prebiotic affinity for Bifidobacterium bifidum. LNnT is its structural counterpart, a type-2 neutral core HMO, and is one of the most clinically studied HMOs in the portfolio, having been tested in combination with 2'FL in a landmark randomised clinical trial demonstrating benefits for microbiome composition and reduced infection rates in infants.

The GlycoActive™ portfolio consists of six nature-identical HMOs: 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'FL), 3-Fucosyllactose (3FL), 3'-Sialyllactose (3'SL), 6'-Sialyllactose (6'SL), Lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), and Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT). Each ingredient is produced using proprietary Inbiose technology through precision fermentation to the highest purity standards and is commercially available for use across a wide range of nutritional applications.

Yes. All six GlycoActive™ HMOs hold regulatory approvals across key global markets, including Novel Food approval in the European Union and GRAS status in the United States. Please contact our team for the most current regulatory status in your specific target market and application category.

All GlycoActive™ HMOs are produced in FSSC 22000 certified facilities. Our products are Kosher and Halal certified, and are free from allergens (with the exception of milk and lactose) as well as free from GMOs and animal-derived ingredients.

Yes. GlycoActive™ HMOs can be used individually or in combination, depending on the target application and desired health benefit profile. Our team can provide guidance on HMO blend strategies suited to your specific formulation needs.

GlycoActive™ HMOs are approved for use across a wide range of nutritional applications, including infant formula, follow-on milk, dietary supplements, and functional food and beverages. Regulatory approval scope varies by market and application category. Please contact our team to confirm the regulatory status in your specific market.

GlycoActive™ HMOs are compatible with both wet and dry blending manufacturing processes. Their high solubility, heat stability, and neutral taste profile make them straightforward to incorporate into a wide range of product formats without affecting the sensory experience of the final product.

GlycoActive™ HMOs are odourless, taste-neutral, and mildly sweet, making them compatible with a wide range of formats including capsules, tablets, powders, sachets, gummies, functional drinks, fortified dairy products, plant-based beverages, functional waters, sports drinks, snack bars, and cereals. Their heat stability makes them suitable for standard food and supplement manufacturing processes.

Yes. HMOs have a specific prebiotic affinity for Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species, making them natural partners for probiotic-containing supplement formulations. This enables formulators to develop synbiotic products where the prebiotic and probiotic components work in concert, supporting gut microbiome composition and overall gut health, a compelling product differentiation opportunity in the fast-growing gut health supplement market.

Unlike conventional fibre-based prebiotics such as inulin, FOS, and GOS, which feed the gut microbiome broadly, HMOs act with greater precision, selectively supporting specific beneficial bacterial species while simultaneously contributing to gut barrier function and pathogen defense. They are also structurally more complex, with a broader range of biological activities extending well beyond prebiotic effects.

Yes. GlycoActive™ HMOs are produced to the highest quality and safety standards and are suitable for use in a range of medical nutrition applications, including enteral nutrition, oral nutritional supplements, and disease-specific formulas. Please contact our team to discuss your specific application and regulatory requirements. Inbiose also welcomes collaboration with research partners to support targeted application studies in this field.

GlycoActive™ Milk Oligosaccharides are suitable for use in nutritional products targeting a wide range of companion animals, including dogs, cats, and other species. Milk oligosaccharides are naturally present in the milk of many companion animal species, reflecting their fundamental biological importance across the animal kingdom. The biological mechanisms through which milk oligosaccharides support gut health, immunity, and joint health are broadly applicable across companion animal species. Please contact our team to discuss suitability for your specific target species and application.

Published research supports the use of milk oligosaccharides in young animals across several areas, including gut health, immunity, and pathogen defense. Evidence from studies in calves, piglets, and poultry suggests that milk oligosaccharides may support intestinal barrier function, increase natural killer cell populations, and help reduce pathogen infectivity and adhesion. All referenced findings are based on publicly available scientific literature. For more specific information relevant to your application, please contact our team.

Yes. GlycoActive™ Milk Oligosaccharides are already incorporated in commercially available milk replacer products, demonstrating real-world applicability in the animal feed sector.

Precision fermentation is the production backbone of Inbiose's technology platform. Using synthetic biology tools, microorganisms are precisely engineered to convert simple sugars into complex, nature-identical carbohydrates such as HMOs. At Inbiose, precision fermentation is fully integrated into the end-to-end development process, allowing a seamless transition from research concept to commercially viable ingredient, faster and more efficiently than conventional production methods allow.

Yes. Inbiose is both an HMO ingredient supplier and a custom specialty carbohydrate development partner. Our proprietary technology platform is designed to take on custom carbohydrate projects across the full development spectrum, from molecular design through to commercial-scale production. Please contact our team to discuss your specific project.

Yes. Research samples of selected pipeline ingredients are available for qualified partners, enabling exploration of their potential ahead of full commercial launch. Please contact our team to discuss eligibility and available materials.