ProDigest

ProDigest is a biotechnology research company and contract research organization (CRO) based in Ghent, Belgium, that specializes in advanced in vitro simulations of the human and animal gastrointestinal tract. The company developed and markets the SHIME® (Simulator of Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem) platform, along with other proprietary technologies including Colon-on-a-plate®, Diamod®, and MetaKey® for metabolomics. These platforms are designed to replicate the physiological, chemical, and microbiological properties of the GI tract, allowing for complex, multi-stage studies of gut microbiota, drug metabolism, and the impact of nutritional or pharmaceutical products. By combining these simulations with analytical and metagenomic readouts, ProDigest provides data that serves as an alternative or complement to in vivo animal models.

These tools are critical for clients in the food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries, helping them bridge the gap between early-stage development and clinical trials. By providing mechanistic insights into how products interact with the gut microbiome, ProDigest supports more informed, faster, and more responsible R&D decision-making. Their expertise is utilized for screening ingredients, testing probiotic strains, and evaluating formulation performance. The company's scientific rigor and the reliability of its technology have been recognized globally, including through a contract awarded by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement the SHIME® platform for preclinical research.