Funding acquired by Eclipse Ingredients for their minimal investment approach in producing lactoferrin, a natural human protein.
In the heart of Brisbane, a biotech startup named Eclipse Ingredients is making waves in the health industry. Spinning out of CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, after four years of rigorous lab development, intellectual property negotiations, and business establishment, Eclipse specialises in precision fermentation—a revolutionary approach that uses engineered yeast to produce bio-identical human lactoferrin, a protein naturally found in breast milk.
Lactoferrin, renowned for its immune-supporting, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and iron-binding properties, has traditionally been extracted from cow's milk. However, this method is expensive and hard to scale, requiring approximately 10,000 litres of milk to produce a single kilogram. With precision fermentation, Eclipse can create ingredients that are difficult or impossible to source through traditional methods, with applications in cosmetics, nutrition, supplements, and potentially infant formula.
Eclipse has recently emerged from stealth, securing substantial funding to scale its operations. According to recent reports, the company has raised between A$7 million (approx. US$4.6 million) and A$7.2 million, with nearly A$3 million coming from the Australian federal government via the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA), and the remainder from AgFunder and angel investors. This funding will support the scaling of their precision fermentation platform and commercialization efforts.
The company has also announced a strategic partnership with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in a A$5.5 million project to further advance the commercialization of human lactoferrin, highlighting ongoing research and development collaboration.
Eclipse’s core technology revolves around precision fermentation, where yeast cells are genetically engineered to produce human lactoferrin in a process likened to brewing, but yielding a bioactive health ingredient instead of alcohol. The initial product focus is human lactoferrin, chosen for its broad health benefits and previously limited availability at scale.
CEO Siobhan Coster emphasises that the company’s mission is not only to manufacture ingredients but to “transform what’s possible” by making nature’s powerful compounds accessible for consumer health applications, including for infants and across life stages. The first target markets are cosmetics and nutrition, but the technology is designed to be adaptable for other high-value proteins and functional ingredients in the future.
The journey from lab to commercial spinout has been described as “not for the faint-hearted,” with significant financial, emotional, and operational challenges encountered along the way. Despite these hurdles, Eclipse has positioned itself as a pioneer in Australia’s growing precision fermentation sector, aiming to leverage the country’s reputation for sustainable, high-quality ingredients. The company is seen as having the potential to disrupt global wellness and skincare markets by solving critical production bottlenecks for complex functional proteins.
Eclipse’s immediate plans involve scaling up production of human lactoferrin using the newly secured funding, supported by partnerships with CSIRO, AgFunder, FaBA, and QUT. The goal is to commercialize their first product and validate the platform’s scalability and cost-effectiveness for broader adoption.
Looking ahead, the company intends to expand its portfolio beyond human lactoferrin, exploring other high-value proteins and bioactive compounds that can be produced via precision fermentation. There is also an expressed intent to enter additional markets, including food, supplements, and potentially infant nutrition, as regulatory pathways permit.
Eclipse aims to establish Australia as a leader in sustainable, tech-driven ingredient production, creating new high-value export opportunities while addressing global demand for health-promoting, animal-free ingredients. The company’s trajectory suggests a focus on both rapid commercialization and ongoing innovation, supported by strong academic and industry partnerships.
In summary, Eclipse Ingredients is at an advanced stage of commercializing human lactoferrin via precision fermentation, with strong funding, partnerships, and a clear roadmap for both near-term product launch and long-term portfolio expansion. The company’s innovative approach to producing high-value ingredients could disrupt the global wellness and skincare markets, making these powerful health compounds more widely available.
- Eclipse Ingredients, with their precision fermentation technology, aims to create ingredients for various sectors, such as cosmetics, nutrition, and supplements, addressing the limitations in traditional methods.
- Leveraging funds from various sources like the Australian federal government, AgFunder, and angel investors, Eclipse Ingredients plans to scale up production of human lactoferrin and explore the development of other high-value proteins and functional ingredients.
- As Eclipse progresses in commercializing human lactoferrin and expanding their portfolio, they envision entering markets like food, supplements, and potentially infant nutrition, fostering Australia's growth as a leader in sustainable, tech-driven ingredient production.
