RALEIGH, N.C. — Innovation at NC State University is transforming lives, one scientific breakthrough at a time. The latest success story, CodonRX, a probiotic supplement designed to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation, is already making an impact on digestive health worldwide.
Developed from decades of research at NC State, CodonRX represents a rare achievement: university-patented science evolving into a commercial product that directly improves quality of life.
“Our labs at NC State spent years researching and developing the anti-inflammatory properties of CodonRX,” said Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou, a lead researcher on the project. “I’m thrilled to see CodonRX reach the market and hopeful that it will make a meaningful difference in people’s health.”
From Discovery to Breakthrough
The foundation for CodonRX dates back more than 40 years to NC State’s Food Microbiology Lab, where scientists first identified Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, a probiotic strain with promising health benefits. Barrangou and his team later advanced this research by genetically modifying the strain, removing a specific gene to reduce inflammation in the gut. The result was a first-of-its-kind probiotic designed for targeted health benefits.
“We always have some level of inflammation—it’s part of our body’s natural balance. But sometimes, it gets out of control,” Barrangou said. “By engineering probiotics, we can promote a healthier gut environment.”
Science Meets Industry
This pioneering research led to the launch of CodonRX through NC State’s Office of Research Commercialization (ORC). ORC quickly identified the value of this project and acted to support commercialization in several ways, including filing for patent protection, assisting with startup logistics, and facilitating execution of a license agreement to give CodonRX rights to this intellectual property. The CodonRX supplement was brought to market by Provaxus, a biotechnology company founded by Yale alumnus and Barrangou collaborator Kevin White.
White, a seasoned entrepreneur with prior academic and leadership roles at Stanford, Yale and the University of Chicago, has a track record of turning scientific discoveries into commercial success. His previous ventures include Tempus AI, which debuted on Nasdaq in 2024 with a $6.6 billion valuation. With CodonRX, he is once again bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and consumer impact.
“We believe this probiotic has the potential to help a broad spectrum of people,” White said. “It’s exciting to be part of helping to translate NC State’s research into a product that is already changing lives.”
Real-World Results
For many, probiotic supplements are just another health product on the shelf. But for users of CodonRX, the results speak for themselves.
Since CodonRX became publicly available last year, it has helped more than 1,000 patients find relief from irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive tract issues. By partnering with gastroenterologists and surgeons, the CodonRX team has worked to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Both providers and patients have reported that CodonRX offers faster relief from constipation, diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain and gas compared to generic probiotics.
“CodonRX worked for me,” said Cindy, a customer from Wisconsin. “I took it for a month, and so far, it has kept me from feeling bloated and, most importantly, has kept me regular.”
Another user shared even quicker results: “Saw improvements in one to two weeks, will continue to take and monitor.”
A Model for Future Innovation
Looking ahead, CodonRX is expanding its impact beyond the supplement itself. Later this year, the company will introduce a free companion mobile app designed to support patients using CodonRX. The app will allow users to track symptoms, monitor bowel health and receive personalized insights, offering valuable data to both patients and their doctors.
With this expansion, CodonRX is more than just a breakthrough in gut health—it’s a testament to NC State’s commitment to turning research into real-world solutions through advancements across biotechnology, agriculture, engineering and health sciences.
Barrangou and his team are already exploring new probiotic applications for digestion, metabolism and brain function, aiming to push the boundaries of microbiome science.
For NC State alumni, researchers and entrepreneurs, CodonRX serves as a powerful example of what’s possible when academia and industry collaborate.
“It’s not typical in academia to go from step one in genetic engineering to actually seeing a product on the market that people can buy and use,” said Dr. Sarah O’Flaherty, a senior research scholar in Barrangou’s lab. “It’s an honor to see it go from A to Z.”
And for the millions of people struggling with gut health, it’s just the beginning of a new era in probiotic science.
For more information on the lab of Dr. Barrangou, visit go.ncsu.edu/barrangou_lab.
For more information on CodonRX, visit codonrx.com.
- Categories:
