BioMara Unveils Thalivra Fucoidan at Vitafoods Europe 2025
- BioMara
- May 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 7
Flagship Seaweed Ingredient Makes Market Debut Following Commercial Scale-Up at UK Bioprocessing Centre
BioMara, the UK-based seaweed biotechnology company, is set to introduce its high-purity fucoidan ingredient Thalivra to the global nutraceutical industry at Vitafoods Europe (20–22 May, Barcelona). The launch follows the successful completion of commercial-scale manufacturing trials at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), one of the UK’s most advanced bioprocessing hubs.
“We’re seeing strong demand for research-backed fucoidans, especially in nutraceuticals and wellness,” said Jay Dignan, CEO of BioMara.
“Yet supply is still constrained across the UK and Europe. Our successful scale-up with CPI proves we can reliably deliver high-quality product. Thalivra gives brands a secure, UK-based fucoidan source that doesn’t compromise on science or sustainability.”
What Is Thalivra?
Thalivra is BioMara’s flagship fucoidan extract, sustainably derived from brown seaweed and designed for use in gut health, immune support, and anti-inflammatory formulations. It retains the natural bioactivity of fucoidan without the use of harsh solvents or chemicals, making it ideal for health-driven products across functional foods, supplements, and nutraceuticals.
Preclinical research shows Thalivra exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, prebiotic, and enzyme-inhibiting properties—key mechanisms relevant to emerging gut-brain and gut-immunity pathways.
Backed by Science: The BioSWELL Project
To further validate Thalivra’s health benefits, BioMara is leading a parallel programme of scientific research: Project BioSWELL (Biotechnological Innovations for Optimised Seaweed Wellness and Economic Levelling-up). Conducted in collaboration with Abertay University and supported by Innovate UK Launchpads, this three-phase study is designed to substantiate Thalivra’s bioactivity and bioavailability—key for industry adoption.
The Validation Stages
Stage 1 – Simulated Digestion. Using the INFOGEST protocol, researchers simulate human digestion to observe how Thalivra behaves as it passes through the digestive tract.
Stage 2 – Gut Absorption. Caco-2 cell assays model how much fucoidan is absorbed across the intestinal wall—a critical factor in demonstrating real-world efficacy.
Stage 3 – Microbiome Response. Ex vivo testing evaluates the impact of digested and undigested Thalivra on the human gut microbiome, with a focus on short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, widely regarded as markers of gut health.
Commercial Scale-Up: A Major Technical Milestone
The unveiling of Thalivra at Vitafoods is enabled by BioMara’s successful scale-up to pilot production (TRL 6–7) at CPI. The process scaled from 500L to 1,000L (1m³) batches without compromising purity or performance—a significant validation of BioMara’s proprietary extraction system.
Compared to industry norms, BioMara’s system delivers:
High yields and purity
Solvent-free processing
Scalable efficiency, placing it among the cleanest and most effective commercial seaweed operations in the Western world
With production risk de-risked and product availability secured, BioMara is now positioned to supply commercial quantities of Thalivra and Seafibrex to formulation partners globally.
“We’re proud to bring a product to market that’s designed for health, backed by science, and made in Scotland,” said Dignan.
“This is just the beginning—we’re setting the stage for BioMara to lead in marine wellness innovation.”
BioMara was at Vitafoods Europe during 20–22 May 2025 with the Stand 4D211D, at Fira Barcelona Gran Via
Learn more: www.biomara.tech
Notes for Editors
Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs): TRL6–7 refers to technologies validated in a relevant industrial environment, typically prior to commercial launch. TRL9 represents full commercial readiness.
About BioMara:
BioMara is a UK-based seaweed processing business specialising in bioactive extraction from regenerative seaweed biomass. Its proprietary technology isolates multiple functional ingredients—including fucoidan and dietary fibre—while retaining compound bioactivity. Committed to local sourcing and low-impact processing, BioMara champions both sustainable innovation and coastal economic development.
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