Portuguese Startup PFx Biotech Revolutionizes Lactoferrin Production Without Animals

A Portuguese biotech startup is transforming how human lactoferrin is made. PFx Biotech, founded in 2022, uses precision fermentation to produce this bioactive protein without animals. The company has now opened a dedicated Nutrition and Applications Lab in Lisbon's Tagus Park to scale up production. PFx Biotech's method starts by encoding human lactoferrin genes into microbial strains. These modified microbes are then grown in bioreactors, allowing large-scale production of the protein. The process avoids animal sources entirely, making it vegan-friendly and reducing environmental impact.

Human lactoferrin, a protein with around 700 amino acids, shares roughly 60% of its sequence with the bovine version. The company's platform is designed to be scalable, with fermenters now ranging from 1,500 litres to 75,000 litres as it enters the next growth phase. Before reaching the market, novel foods like PFx Biotech's lactoferrin must pass EU approval. Companies submit safety data to a national authority, which forwards it to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for assessment. The European Commission then makes the final decision based on EFSA's opinion. The lactoferrin market itself is expanding rapidly. Valued at $724.6 million in 2025, it is forecast to grow to $985.7 million by 2030, at a rate of 6.4% per year. Meanwhile, the broader fermented protein sector is expected to hit $2.49 billion by 2035, increasing at 7.3% annually.

PFx Biotech's fermentation-based approach offers a sustainable alternative to traditional lactoferrin production. With its new lab in Lisbon and large-scale fermenters, the company is preparing for commercial expansion. The growing demand for bioactive proteins suggests a strong market for its animal-free solution.