A year in review
In 2018 we grew. We invested and formed strategic partnerships. We gave back to communities. All that thanks to our 10,000 employees - take a look.
The microbiome explained
The microbiome explained
The microbiome is now seen as a completely new organ that plays an important role in keeping humans and animals healthy. Scientists have only recently been focusing on this area and it is leading to many surprising discoveries on conditions that have proved difficult for traditional medicine.
Boiled down, the microbiome is an ecosystem of tiny organisms like bacteria, fungi, viruses, and yeast that live in- and outside of every living being. Each microbiome is unique, and most of all microbes belonging to our microbiome have permanently set up camp in our guts. As the gut is in constant, two-way communication with our body, gut microbiome health is crucial to our overall health. And for microbiomes to be healthy, they need to be diverse and able to adapt.
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The harmful effect of an imbalanced microbiome
In well-known disease conditions, such as metabolic and immunological disorders, and possibly even psychiatric disorders, strong variations in the microbiome have been observed in studies.
In humans, the cases of diabetes have tripled between 1980 and 20141. Obesity too has almost tripled since 19752 and people increasingly suffer from mental illnesses like anxiety and depression3.
Similar problems occur in animals. Pets are developing the same lifestyle diseases as humans, like obesity and diabetes. In livestock animals, misuse of antibiotics (low dose preventive treatment) kills both good and bad bacteria. This could lead to an imbalanced microbiome, which could lead to a weakened immune response.
“The difference between human health and animal health from this aspect is small, and there is lot in common between human health and animal health,“ shares George Heidgerken, Head of Global Strategic Business Unit Livestock. “They are just different ecosystems. Boehringer Ingelheim can draw on synergies from its human and animal health businesses to further explore this exciting new field.”