Persephone Biosciences, a leading biotech firm dedicated to harnessing the microbiome's potential for human health, has officially introduced its inaugural consumer offering: a daily synergistic synbiotic specifically designed for infants and toddlers. This innovative synbiotic combines probiotics—beneficial live bacteria—with targeted prebiotics, which are fibers that nourish them, to promote a thriving gut microbiome essential for lifelong health. In a remarkable response, over 10,000 parents and caregivers have joined the waitlist for this science-backed product aimed at replenishing critical gut microbes in babies.

The launch follows the recent publication in Communication Biology (a Nature portfolio journal) detailing findings from the My Baby Biome study, the largest and most comprehensive investigation into the U.S. infant gut microbiome. This pivotal research uncovered that nine in ten babies are lacking essential strains of Bifidobacterium—beneficial microbes that used to be universally present in healthy infants but have diminished due to modern practices. These strains are crucial for early immune system development. Persephone’s synbiotic, which also includes Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), is formulated to replace these missing bacterial strains, thereby restoring balance to the infant microbiome and supporting long-term health.

"As a mom and a scientist, I know how important it is to get this right. We’re doing something that’s never been done before — helping babies regain the essential bacteria they need for lifelong health," stated Stephanie Culler, Ph.D., CEO and Co-founder of Persephone Biosciences.

The mission of Persephone is deeply rooted in Culler’s personal experiences with loss at a young age. After earning a PhD from the California Institute of Technology with a focus on developing new cancer therapies, she transitioned to studying the microbiome and its effects on health, leading to the creation of Persephone.

Richard Insel, M.D., Persephone’s Chief Medical Advisor and Research Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, remarked, "We’ve seen alarming increases in immune-driven conditions like eczema, food allergy, type 1 diabetes, and more. What’s driving this increase? These are all defects of the immune system—and what informs and imprints that system is a baby’s gut microbiome." He emphasized that the contemporary infant gut microbiome in industrialized societies has changed significantly, with a loss of keystone microbes. However, he also noted, "The good news is that this significant deficit is addressable."

Culler further explained, "Research shows the problem is complex, and the solution is simple and safe, which is exactly what we’ve built in Persephone – a quality product, based on science, that I’ve been giving to my own child. Moreover, it’s the first synbiotic to receive the Clean Label Project’s First 1,000 Days Promise. Every parent worries about their child’s well-being. We’re proud to create a product to help parents worry a little less."

Product Highlights:

- Unique Formulation: Persephone’s Daily Synergistic Synbiotic is the only infant and toddler probiotic specifically designed to replenish key beneficial microbes absent in nine out of ten babies today. Each serving also delivers the daily recommended amount of Vitamin D for infants—400 IU.

- Exclusive Strains: This synbiotic uniquely combines four naturally occurring strains from healthy infants: two proprietary Bifidobacterium infantis, along with Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium longum, which are vital for early gut development and transitioning to solid foods.

- Synergistic Approach: Unlike standard probiotics, Persephone's formulation pairs its keystone strains with a precise prebiotic blend of human breast milk sugars, ensuring the microbes can successfully colonize the gut and provide lasting benefits.

- Scientific Validation: Tested in ARTEMIS, the largest randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its kind in the U.S. for infants and toddlers.

- Quality Assurance: Each batch undergoes testing at Eurofins for heavy metals, allergens, and contaminants, and is independently certified by the Clean Label Project’s First 1000 Days Promise, adhering to strict safety standards.

- Ease of Use: The flavorless powder mixes seamlessly into liquids or soft foods, designed to be gentle for infants and convenient for parents.

Available in two formulations—Bloom for infants and Thrive for toddlers—Persephone’s Daily Synergistic Synbiotic starts at $64.95 for a 30-day supply. Culler concluded, "Parents deserve more than just a product, so we’re building real support alongside it, including Gut Microbiome 101 workshops, easy to use guides for communicating to your pediatrician, and an ‘Ask Stephanie’ series where no question is off-limits. At Persephone we’re establishing the standard of care for the microbiome, with the kind of support that every parent needs to feel confident in caring for their child’s lifelong health."