Magellan Life Sciences

Magellan Life Sciences, a biotechnology firm established in 2013, operates from its headquarters in London, UK, with a significant presence in Hyderabad, India. The company was co-founded by Abhiram Dukkipati, who also serves as CEO, alongside Nageswararao Dukkipati and Laxmi Wagle.

The firm is centered on the application of synthetic biology to address global health and nutrition challenges. It utilizes a proprietary bacterial platform, known as XSeed, for the industrial-scale manufacturing of plant-inspired proteins. This platform facilitates the development of economically viable production processes for various proteins aimed at the food and beverage industries. Magellan's business model involves creating these specialized proteins and supplying them to F&B companies, which are increasingly seeking healthier product formulations in response to consumer demand and health trends like rising diabetes and obesity rates.

The company's flagship product is Brazzein, a protein-based sweetener derived from the West African fruit Oubli. Brazzein is notable for being approximately 1,200 times sweeter than conventional sugar while containing zero calories. A key differentiator for Brazzein is its sugar-like taste profile, which lacks the metallic or bitter aftertaste common in other sweeteners. This eliminates the need for masking agents in product formulations, thereby potentially reducing costs for food and beverage manufacturers. The protein is also stable under varying heat and pH conditions, making it suitable for a wide array of applications.

In addition to its focus on sweeteners, Magellan Life Sciences is also involved in developing subunit vaccine antigens for various tropical diseases and protein therapeutics for conditions such as diabetes and cancer. The company has successfully secured funding through multiple rounds, including a seed round in June 2021 with participation from investors like Roquette Ventures and SOSV. These investments are aimed at scaling up production and accelerating market entry for its protein sweeteners.

Keywords: synthetic biology, protein sweeteners, Brazzein, food technology, beverage ingredients, sugar substitute, zero-calorie, fermentation, plant-based proteins, industrial biotechnology, F&B manufacturing, health and nutrition, proprietary platform, venture capital, Roquette Ventures, SOSV, vaccine antigens, protein therapeutics, alternative sweeteners, food formulation