Helaina brought effera™ human-identical lactoferrin to SupplySide Global 2025 with three product concepts: protein bars for athletes, menopause-focused chocolates, and longevity bites. Plus two new commercial launches showing the ingredient's versatility.
Helaina delivered at SupplySide Global 2025, showcasing the incredible versatility of its human-identical lactoferrin ingredient, effera™, through three innovative product concepts and highlighting recent commercial launches that demonstrate the ingredient's multi-category potential.
For those who missed the show, Helaina's presence showed exactly what makes effera™ a category-creating ingredient: it works seamlessly across diverse applications, from sports nutrition protein bars to menopause-focused functional chocolates to multi-layered longevity bites, and while maintaining efficacy at practical dosages as low as 100mg daily.
We previously teased effera™'s clinical validation, new formulator resources, and the "Colostrum 2.0" positioning. This recap covers what attendees experienced firsthand at the booth and what brand owners who missed the show should know about effera™'s formulation flexibility.
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Three Innovative Concepts: Longevity, Women's Health, and Active Nutrition
Helaina debuted three distinct product concepts at SupplySide Global, each targeting different consumer needs while demonstrating effera™'s formulation versatility across multiple delivery formats.
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Longevispheres: Multi-Layered Approach to Healthy Aging
The Longevispheres Pumpkin Spice Bites showcase collaborative innovation in functional food development. These seasonal treats combine effera™ with premium longevity-focused bioactives in a layered format that makes supplementation both enjoyable and effective.
Each two-sphere serving (90g total) delivers 16 grams of protein alongside:
- effera™ – Human-identical lactoferrin supporting immune balance, iron homeostasis, and gut barrier function
- Puremidine® – Spermidine for cellular renewal and autophagy support
- Lutemax® 2020 – Lutein and zeaxanthin for eye and cognitive health
- Pūrcolla™ – Hydrolyzed collagen supporting joint and skin health
- PROtext™ – Milk protein crisps providing texture and additional protein
- Treha® – Trehalose for structural stability
The concept bridges the gap between functional supplementation and real food experiences. By incorporating effera™ into a dessert-inspired format with complementary longevity ingredients, Longevispheres demonstrates how human-identical lactoferrin can support healthy aging through multiple mechanisms -- iron regulation, inflammatory balance, and immune function -- while consumers enjoy a seasonal treat.
This application makes sense given effera™'s established benefits for gut barrier integrity, which naturally decline with age, and its ability to support iron homeostasis without triggering the inflammatory responses often associated with traditional iron supplementation in older adults.
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Brain Fog Chocolates: Targeted Menopause Support
Helaina collaborated with Freemen Nutra to develop Brain Fog Chocolates, addressing one of menopause's most common quality-of-life concerns: mental clarity and cognitive function.
Helaina's effera™ is revolutionizing supplements with the first human-equivalent lactoferrin. Research shows better bioavailability and reduced immune response compared to bovine sources.
The formulation combines three complementary ingredients:
- effera™ – Supports iron balance, inflammatory homeostasis, and gut barrier function during hormonal transitions
- Memo-Q – An enzymatically hydrolyzed silk protein fibroin from Freemen Nutra that enhances acetylcholine signaling, increases BDNF expression, protects against oxidative stress, and improves cerebral blood flow
- Xeya Shatavari – A modern take on a traditional Ayurvedic adaptogen (Asparagus racemosus) containing steroidal saponins that support hormonal balance and have been used historically for women's health applications
This concept addresses multiple menopause-related challenges simultaneously. Declining estrogen levels during menopause correlate with reduced endogenous lactoferrin production, decreased gut microbiome diversity, and increased systemic inflammation. effera™'s ability to promote beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus becomes increasingly valuable during this life stage when microbiome composition naturally shifts.
The chocolate delivery format makes daily supplementation more appealing while providing functional benefits that directly impact cognitive clarity, energy levels, and overall wellbeing during a critical life transition.
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Super Duper Protein Bars: effera™ Meets Active Lifestyle
The Helaina Super Duper Protein Bars in Blueberry Cheesecake flavor demonstrate effera™'s compatibility with sports nutrition and active lifestyle applications.
effera™ human-identical lactoferrin demonstrates no alloimmune response in groundbreaking clinical trial, while bovine lactoferrin triggered antibody responses in over 50% of participants. First study to definitively answer the alloimmunization question for precision-fermented proteins.
Each 50g bar delivers:
- 20 grams of protein from whey protein concentrate, milk protein isolate, whey protein isolate, and soy protein isolate
- effera™ Human Lactoferrin supporting oxygen delivery to muscles through improved iron regulation
- 180 calories with comprehensive micronutrient fortification (20% DV for most vitamins and minerals)
- Hydrolyzed collagen for additional structural protein support
This concept positions effera™ in the performance nutrition space, where its iron regulation benefits directly impact athletic performance through enhanced oxygen-carrying capacity. As discussed in Episode #180 with Dan DeMarino and Anthony Clark, lactoferrin functions as an "air traffic controller" for iron transport, helping athletes access stored iron more efficiently during training.
The protein bar format demonstrates effera™'s heat stability and formulation compatibility with dairy proteins, making it suitable for mainstream sports nutrition products beyond niche supplement categories.
Recent Product Launches: effera™ Reaches Market
Beyond booth concepts, Helaina highlighted two recently launched products featuring effera™:
We went behind the scenes at Helaina's Manhattan lab to see how they make human-identical effera™ lactoferrin through precision fermentation.
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SwissRX Revitalize
SwissRX Revitalize offers a straightforward standalone lactoferrin supplement in a 30-capsule bottle, with 340mg effera™ per capsule -- the dosage level associated with maintained iron homeostasis and all lower-dose benefits in one convenient serving.
This product provides an accessible entry point for consumers interested in experiencing effera™'s benefits without complex multi-ingredient formulations. The 340mg dose aligns with Helaina's clinical research showing comprehensive support for immune function, gut health, respiratory wellness, and iron regulation.
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Sunny Within Longevity
Sunny Within Longevity integrates effera™ (75mg per tablespoon serving) into a liposomal longevity formula featuring bioavailable NAD+, glutathione, CoQ10, and vitamin B12 in convenient liquid sachets.
While the effera™ dosage sits at the lower end of the efficacy spectrum, the product demonstrates the ingredient's compatibility with liposomal delivery systems and premium longevity-focused formulations.
Growing Demand: Helaina Expands Commercial Team
Helaina is hiring!
Helaina's most recent job posting (as of this article) is for an Inside Sales Representative (hybrid position in New York, NY), signaling growing commercial demand for effera™. The role focuses on lead generation, customer qualification, and supporting the Business Development team -- clear indicators of expanding market interest in human-identical bioactive proteins.
The position offers a solid base salary plus equity, targeting early-career professionals interested in biotech sales and life sciences commercialization. For those interested in joining the company's growth, follow the Helaina LinkedIn page for current openings.
More Content Coming: Follow Helaina's Social Channels
Helaina produced a promotional reel at SupplySide Global featuring interviews with team members discussing effera™'s unique advantages, from its human-identical structure and enhanced bioavailability to its applications in iron homeostasis and anemia of inflammation.
Expect this video content and additional behind-the-scenes material to circulate on Helaina's social media channels soon. Continue to follow Helaina on LinkedIn to stay current on new research, product launches, and educational content.
The Formulator's Opportunity
Laura Katz, founder and CEO of Helaina, discusses the revolutionary effera™ human-identical lactoferrin technology and precision fermentation platform on Episode #167 of the PricePlow Podcast.
These SupplySide Global concepts illustrate effera™'s remarkable formulation flexibility. The same ingredient that works in:
- Protein bars for athletic performance and oxygen delivery
- Functional chocolates for menopause-related cognitive support
- Multi-layered bites for comprehensive healthy aging benefits
- Standalone capsules for straightforward supplementation
- Liposomal liquids for premium bioavailability-focused products
...can also integrate into gummies, powders, ready-to-drink beverages, and virtually any format requiring a tasteless, odorless bioactive protein that delivers measurable benefits at practical dosages.
For brand owners and formulators who missed SupplySide Global and want to explore these concepts or discuss custom applications for effera™, contact Helaina directly through their website or reach out via LinkedIn.
Learn More About effera™
Dan DeMarino and Anthony Clark from Helaina dive deep into precision fermentation technology and effera™ human-equivalent lactoferrin, revealing how 5-week development cycles and machine learning models are revolutionizing bioactive protein production on Episode #180 of the PricePlow Podcast.
To explore the science behind human-identical lactoferrin and understand why effera™ eliminates the immunogenic response seen with bovine alternatives, check out PricePlow's comprehensive coverage:
- effera™: Revolutionary Human-Equivalent Lactoferrin Goes Beyond Bovine – Complete ingredient guide
- The Landmark Lactoferrin Trial That Changed Everything – Clinical validation of no immune response
- Dan DeMarino & Anthony Clark: Helaina's Precision Fermentation Revolution | Episode #180 – Science and manufacturing deep dive
- Inside Helaina's Manhattan Lab – Facility tour and technology overview
- #167: Laura Katz: Helaina Revolutionizes Nutrition with Human Identical Lactoferrin
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