Noumi trials milk supplement as potential Covid-19 therapy

Noumi chief executive Michael Perich quickly overcame the worst of the pandemic. Here’s what he did.

Noumi chief executive Michael Perich is partnering with the University of Newcastle to complete clinical trials on lactoferrin’s potential as a treatment for Covid and other respiratory viruses.

Michael Perich, the chief executive of Noumi – the company formerly known as Freedom Foods – managed to overcome the worst of his Covid-19 infection in three days, and he is hoping to share his secret with the world.

Mr Perich took a shot of lactoferrin – an iron-bonding protein extracted from cow’s milk that’s worth about $1500 a kilogram – with honey in an effort to boost his immune system.

It wasn’t a whim. For the past 18 months, Noumi has been investigating the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of lactoferrin – known as pink gold given its reddish hue after processing – and its potential to help treat coronavirus-type symptoms.

So far, preclinical trials have shown promise, supporting the hypothesis that it helps build immunity to fight coronavirus and rhinoviruses. Working with the University of Newcastle, Noumi is now recruiting people for the first round of clinical trials.

“I was head-coldy for about 36 hours,” Mr Perich said about his experience contracting Covid-19 earlier this month.

He said when he tested positive he took some of Noumi’s lactoferrin. “That’s why I probably didn’t feel ordinary for too long.”

If clinical trials are successful, it will cement Noumi’s transition from a cereal and snack company to a manufacturer of high-end health supplements as it shakes off a series of scandals – including the resignation of long-serving chief executive Rory Macleod after the board launched an investigation into its finances in June 2020.

Noumi chief executive Michael Perich. Picture: Jane Dempster

Noumi’s shares have plunged 66.8 per cent to 13c in the past year, compared with an 11 per cent decline across the broader sharemarket. But has been steadily gaining traction in its health supplements business, including a former sponsorship deal with the Geelong Cats.

The company has invested $300m in building a factory and research facility in Shepparton and is now producing about 10 per cent of the world’s lactoferrin in a global market worth around $600m.

While the protein has become a rock-star supplement, given its role as an ingredient in infant formula, particularly for products sold in China, it is less well-known for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

Early in the pandemic, demand for lactoferrin soared, particularly in Italy.

But more research is needed.

“We’ve invested in it for a number of years.

“This is a different space, but it‘s a really good space to be in,” Mr Perich said.

Professor Lisa Wood and Dr Bronwyn Berthon from Hunter Medical Research Institute and the University of Newcastle will oversee the clinical trials.

“There has been some previous work done on children and adults which pointed to a reduction in respiratory tract infections in those who were taking lactoferrin supplements,” Dr Berthon said.

“We want to test its effects on the immune function of older people, as we know that immune function decreases with age.”