LA-based probiotic company Seed is launching a new vaginal suppository aimed at helping women maintain a stable vaginal microbiome, focusing on three strains of Lactobacillus crispatus. Developed in partnership with Dr. Jacques Ravel, a leading vaginal microbiome scientist, the product aims to address common urogenital conditions such as urinary tract infections, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections. Current treatments often involve antibiotics, which can disrupt the vaginal microbiome and lead to recurring infections. Seed states that 9 out of 10 women have an imbalanced microbiome, making them more susceptible to infection, and hopes its suppository can replenish the healthy bacteria in the vaginal area.
Dr. Ravel explains that conditions like bacterial vaginosis have high reinfection rates and little progress has been made in the last 50 years to develop effective treatments. Seed’s VS-01™ is the first clinically proven vaginal suppository to restore a healthy vaginal microbiome. While regular use is required in the first month, maintenance involves using the suppository just twice a month once the microbiome is stabilized. Common factors such as sex, swimming, exercising, and menstruation can disrupt the vaginal microbiome, and Seed recommends regular use of the suppository to prevent infections.
Clinical trials and consumer-use studies involving approximately 400 women, with 70 participants in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, showed that 90 percent established an optimal vaginal microbiome dominated by L. crispatus within 21 days. Preclinical safety tests and toxicological evaluations were also conducted on VS-01™, which was analyzed for over 500 chemicals, including endocrine disruptors. Unlike many vaginal probiotics on the market that are for oral consumption, Seed’s suppository delivers the microbes directly into the vaginal ecosystem, where they are needed. Dr. Ravel emphasizes the importance of L. crispatus in maintaining vaginal health, as it consistently provides protection and reduces inflammation.
Vaginal suppositories with probiotics are more readily available in Europe than in the US, but Seed’s focus on three proprietary strains of L. crispatus sets their product apart. Ara Katz, co-founder of Seed, believes that the vaginal microbiome is the next frontier in women’s health, and VS-01™ represents a new paradigm of care that empowers women to take control of their bodies. The suppository’s unique formulation aims to maintain pH balance and promote stability in vaginal health, with the goal of providing women with a more effective solution to common urogenital conditions. Dr. Ravel’s research on the benefits of L. crispatus and Seed’s dedication to conducting clinical studies set their product apart in the market, offering women a targeted and scientifically-backed option for maintaining vaginal health.
