July 5, 2021 – Mérieux NutriSciences, a world leader in food safety, quality and sustainability, announced today the signature of an agreement to sell Biofortis SAS as part of an entrepreneurial project led by Benoît Fouchaq, Managing Director of Biofortis SAS.
Biofortis is a leading European premium CRO specialized in the conduct of observational and interventional clinical studies on nutritional supplements, ingredients, cosmetics and pre and probiotics. Expertise in the study of microbiota accompanies innovative product development projects. Biofortis thus benefits from a strong growth potential and plans to develop new services dedicated to the biotech, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
This sale is in line with Mérieux NutriSciences’ strategy to focus its investments primarily on food and to dedicate its development to this market, in particular to chemistry and new service lines such as food sustainability.
Mérieux NutriSciences will therefore sell the majority of its shares in Biofortis SAS to Mr. Benoît Fouchaq, current Managing Director of Biofortis. Institut Mérieux, a major public health player, has decided to take a minority stake in Biofortis to support its development.
On this occasion, Benoît Fouchaq said: “Thanks to the support of Mérieux NutriSciences since 2009, we have been able to grow and develop new services to secure our growth. Today, I am happy and grateful that Mérieux NutriSciences is encouraging my entrepreneurial project surrounded by an experienced and motivated team. I am also delighted that Institut Mérieux is coming to our side to support this desire to undertake and innovate. “
Philippe Sans, Executive Vice President of Institut Mérieux, added: “Driven by common values and a shared spirit of serving public health, we are pleased to support Biofortis in this new stage of its development. Its microbiome activities in particular and its value-added R&D projects are important advances that we will follow with great interest. “
CONTACTS – Media relations
Mérieux NutriSciences
Marion Bertrand
marion.bertrand@mxns.com
+33 6 83 31 68 70
Image Sept
Claire Doligez
cdoligez@image7.fr
+33 1 53 70 74 48 / +33 6 84 90 21 69
Victoire de Brébisson
vdebrebisson@image7.fr
+33 1 53 70 65 39 / +33 6 51 17 14 50
About Mérieux NutriSciences: A world player in food safety and quality for more than 50 years, Mérieux NutriSciences is present in 26 countries through more than 100 laboratories.
As part of Institut Mérieux, Mérieux NutriSciences offers analytical and product development solutions to prevent health risks related to food and more generally to the use of everyday consumer products. The company also offers digital solutions as part of its dedicated business unit. sta.merieuxnutrisciences.com
About Institut Mérieux : Institut Mérieux is a family holding company dedicated to global public health. Institut Mérieux takes a comprehensive approach to the fight against infectious diseases and cancers with five complementary companies: bioMérieux for in vitro diagnostics; Mérieux NutriSciences for food safety; Transgene for immunotherapy; ABL Inc. for contract research and bioproduction; and Mérieux Développement, a healthcare investment firm. Institut Mérieux has 20,000 employees all over the world and 3.2 billion euros in sales. www.institut-merieux.com
About Biofortis : Biofortis is a leading European premium CRO specialized in the conduct of observational and interventional clinical studies on nutritional supplements, ingredients, cosmetics and pre and probiotics. Expertise in the study of microbiota accompanies innovative product development projects. Biofortis thus benefits from a strong growth potential and plans to develop new services dedicated to the biotech, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. biofortis.fr