Leading Australian natural wellbeing company Blackmores Limited (Blackmores) has today announced an up to $15 million strategic investment in Adelaide based biotech leader BiomeBank, combining Blackmores’ strong heritage in natural health with BiomeBank’s world-class microbiome research and therapies.
The investment is the first made by Blackmores under the newly created Kirin Health Science International (KHSI) structure, which brings together the strengths of Kirin Holdings, Blackmores and FANCL into a single, globally-focused health science platform.
“Our partnership with BiomeBank is an investment in the next frontier of novel probiotic innovation, informed by leading microbiome research. It will help us to significantly improve people’s wellbeing, whilst backing local science, building industry and strengthening Australia’s leadership in gut microbiome health,” said President Kirin Health Science International and Blackmores Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Alastair Symington.
Renowned for securing regulatory approval for a donor derived microbiome-based therapy (faecal microbiota transplant), BiomeBank’s world-leading CONSORTIOME® platform powers its research and development of effective microbiome innovation.
Currently, 50% of Australians experience gut health problems and 1 in 7 of those experience distressing symptoms. The gut microbiome is an emerging field of medical research, with early indications showing that gut health plays an important role in our overall health, metabolic function and protection against illness.
“Research shows that our gut microbiome can affect multiple organs in our body and has links to a number of diseases and conditions,” Mr Symington said.
“We are proud to be expanding our capability and future product pipeline into this important and emerging field. This investment will give us access to BiomeBank’s breakthrough science and probiotic innovation, opening product opportunities in potential new markets”.
The human microbiome market is projected to exceed US$7 billion globally by 2031.
BiomeBank Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Dr Sam Costello, said Blackmores’ trusted brand, channels to market and global reach, together with BiomeBank’s world-leading research and novel probiotic innovation, ensured a complementary partnership with long-term, international potential.
“This partnership marks an important milestone for the future of probiotics not just in Australia, but internationally. By combining our unique collection of human gut microbial strains and proprietary technology with Blackmores’ strong history of commercial success, we have an opportunity to develop a new generation of probiotics that extend well beyond the range of species currently available on the market,” Dr Costello said.
“We look forward to deepening this mutually beneficial relationship over time.”
BiomeBank’s share register includes a number of institutional and strategic investors, including Artesian Alternative Investments, North South Ventures (US) and The Hospital Research Foundation. It also includes funds managed through Australian investment firm, Ellerston Capital.
“This investment represents a significant step in accelerating our long-term growth strategy. By deploying capital into areas where we have clear scientific and commercial advantage, we are strengthening our platform and positioning BiomeBank to capture meaningful opportunities in the global microbiome market,” explained Chris Hall, Chair of BiomeBank’s Board.
Blackmores’ investment in BiomeBank underscores its commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based health solutions to people everywhere, every day.
ABOUT BIOMEBANK
- BiomeBank is an Australian clinical-stage biotechnology company with a mission to restore human gut microbial ecology.
- Founded in 2018 and based in Adelaide, BiomeBank translates breakthrough science into innovative, life-saving microbiome therapies.
- BiomeBank’s share register includes institutional investors including Artesian Alternative Investments, North South Ventures (US), and The Hospital Research Foundation. It also includes funds managed through Australian investment firm, Ellerston Capital.
- Led by world-renowned microbiome experts, BiomeBank also partners with top biomedical institutions and clinical sites across Australia.
- BiomeBank’s current product, BIOMICTRA®, is ARTG-listed and widely used in clinical settings throughout Australia.
- The company combines one of the world’s largest collections of human gut microbes with proprietary technology to create next-generation microbial therapeutics. Its platform enables the development of both pharmaceutical treatments and novel probiotics that go beyond traditional single-strain approaches.
ABOUT KIRIN HEALTH SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL (KHSI)
- KHSI is a new leadership and coordination entity within Kirin Holdings’ Health Science business.
- KHSI is focused on enabling faster innovation and becoming a leading global preventative health business, responding to growing consumer demands for trusted, evidence-based health solutions.
- As President of KHSI (as of 1 April 2026) and CEO and Managing Director of Blackmores Group, Alastair Symington is also a Senior Executive Officer of Kirin Holdings, and the sole representative from Australia.
- Mr Symington will remain CEO of Blackmores Group, ensuring continuity for the Australian business. Blackmores Group will continue to operate as it does today.
