Adisseo and Novozymes, two global leaders in the animal nutrition and feed additive industry, announced the launch of their probiotic for poultry, Alterion, in the U.S. market as well as in a number of countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Alterion has been developed from a unique strain of Bacillus subtilis, a naturally occurring bacterium found in soil. When added to feed, it allows farmers to better control the gut health of their animals, limits development of unwanted bacteria in the animal’s digestive tract and optimizes feed conversion by 2.0-2.5%, meaning less feed is consumed and needed to raise an animal.

The launch is the result of an extensive collaborative program. Novozymes used its expertise in biotechnology to perform in vitro testing and is responsible for development and production of Alterion. Adisseo performed in vivo testing and will manage marketing and sales.

"Global trials have validated the performance and mode of action of Alterion, and trial customers are very excited about the results," Adisseo chief executive officer Jean-Marc Dublanc said. "This confirms that the product is ready for market, and it will be gradually rolled out on a global scale. We are convinced that it will be a valuable tool for customers looking for a sustainable and economical solution to meet regulatory challenges and consumer-driven curbs on use of antibiotic growth promoters."