Chilean scientists develop probiotic to prevent stomach cancer

(Web Desk): Scientists in Chile have developed a new probiotic aimed at preventing stomach cancer — a significant breakthrough in the fight against the disease.

The probiotic was created by Dr. Apolinaria García Cancino, a researcher at the University of Concepción, after 17 years of research.

This probiotic is specifically effective against Helicobacter pylori, a major bacterial cause of gastric cancer. Clinical trials showed that only 2.7% of participants who used the probiotic were infected by the bacteria, compared to 34.2% in the placebo group — indicating an efficacy rate of 92.1%.

The probiotic works by supporting beneficial gut bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These bacteria are able to survive in the acidic environment of the stomach and inhibit the growth of H. pylori.

Additionally, the probiotic helps maintain a balanced gut microbiome, which may contribute to cancer prevention.

It was developed in collaboration with Chilean biotech company “Leva” and the Italian firm “Sacco System,” both of which have been licensed to produce the probiotic on a commercial scale. This marks a major step toward making the probiotic available globally.