About Us

Our heritage

Biocodex is a family-owned company founded 70 years ago to market the world’s first probiotic yeast strain, Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745®. Biocodex has since expanded its expertise in gut microbiota, evolving from French pioneer to an international player in the microbiota realm. Today, Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745® is available in more than 100 countries and is the leading probiotic drug worldwide*.

Biocodex’s history

Biocodex’s history started in the 1920s with the discovery of the Saccharomyces boulardii yeast in Indochina by Henri Boulard, a French biologist. At that time, cholera epidemics were common in Asia. Henri Boulard took a keen interest in tropical diseases.

The agronomist observed Indochinese people consuming a drink made from lychees and mangosteens to treat the infectious diarrhea caused by cholera. This led him to study in detail the composition of the lychee and mangosteen skins. He then identified a specific yeast from the Saccharomyces family, the unique Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745® strain Biocodex produces today in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.

Henri Boulard at the roots of probiotics

This docufiction film takes us back to the early 20th century, when agronomist Henri Boulard discovered a passion for plants and yeast, the living microorganisms capable of provoking fermentation. The film traces Boulard’s journey in Indochina, leading to his discovery of the world’s first probiotic yeast strain for human medicine.

Biocodex’s unique strain

In 1953, Biocodex acquired the rights to Henri Boulard’s yeast strain and fermentation process, and in 1961, the company registered lyophilized Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745® as a drug. This unique strain was deposited at the Institut Pasteur (Paris) in 1989.

Saccharomyces boulardii yeast cells in the gut

  • More than 100 scientific studies have proven the efficacy of our unique strain
  • Recommended by doctors 460 MILLION people have been treated with Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745® since its launch on the market 

In addition to gastroenterology, Biocodex has developed scientific expertise in other therapeutic areas such as pain, neurology, general medicine and orphan diseases. Biocodex focus on three areas of expertise: microbiota care, women’s health and orphan diseases.

*Source: IQVA, 2021 (based on sales volume).