Dyadic International, BRIG BIO, and Strive Nutrition announced a strategic collaboration on November 10, 2026, to develop and commercialize precision-fermented bovine alpha-lactalbumin.
The partnership integrates Dyadic’s Dapibus™ protein production platform to scale this essential whey protein for use in Strive Nutrition’s FREEMILK™ and other advanced nutritional products by early 2028.
- Alpha-lactalbumin is the primary whey protein found in human breast milk, serving as a critical component for infant and adult nutritional health.
- Precision fermentation uses specialized microorganisms to synthesize specific proteins, bypassing the need for traditional dairy extraction methods.
- The collaboration aims to reach a production capacity of 10 metric tonnes annually upon completion of the regulatory GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) process.
The collaboration uses Dyadic’s Dapibus™ platform, which utilizes microbial expression systems to produce recombinant proteins. According to a joint statement, the companies are focusing on strain optimization to improve productivity and manufacturing efficiency. This technical foundation is paired with BRIG BIO’s regulatory expertise and Strive Nutrition’s established commercial footprint, which includes distribution in major retailers like Walmart.
Steven Welle, CEO of BRIG BIO, emphasized that this partnership provides a realistic framework for bringing high-value proteins to the nutrition market.
“We believe precision-fermented alpha-lactalbumin has the potential to become an important next-generation nutrition ingredient,” said Steven Welle, Co-founder and CEO of BRIG BIO.
Alpha-lactalbumin is highly valued in clinical nutrition due to its amino acid profile and its role as the predominant whey protein in human breast milk. Dennis Cohlmia, Chairman and CEO of Strive Nutrition, stated that historical methods of isolating this protein from bovine milk have been cost-prohibitive and inefficient.
By utilizing precision fermentation, the companies aim to improve access to this ingredient, which is already a staple in specialized children’s and adult nutritional formulas.
“Alpha-lactalbumin is an especially exciting protein because of its important role in human nutrition and its potential to help us develop better nutritional products,” said Dennis Cohlmia, Chairman and CEO of Strive Nutrition Corp.
| Metric | Projected Target |
|---|---|
| Initial Commercial Availability | > 10 metric tonnes |
| Long-term Annual Production | > 200 metric tonnes |
| Target Regulatory Completion | Early 2028 |
Quiver Quantitative reported that $DYAI insiders have traded the stock 3 times in the past 6 months, with 0 purchases and 3 sales. The commercial timeline depends on the successful completion of the self-affirmed GRAS process.
Market participation in Dyadic stock has seen recent volatility, with institutional investors showing mixed activity. Marketscreener reported that several firms, including BlackRock and Apis Capital Advisors, decreased their positions in the second quarter of 2026. Conversely, other institutions added to their holdings during the third quarter, reflecting a divergent outlook on the company’s reliance on third-party collaborations.
While precision-fermented alpha-lactalbumin is animal-free, it is molecularly identical to the protein found in bovine milk.
The success of this collaboration hinges on the transition from laboratory-scale development to industrial-scale manufacturing. The parties have indicated that once technical and regulatory requirements are satisfied, they will negotiate a definitive commercial supply agreement. As of November 2026, the primary focus remains on the GRAS certification process, which serves as the gatekeeper for the product’s entry into the U.S. nutritional market.
