What Pendulum Therapeutics does

Pendulum Therapeutics is a San Francisco-based biotechnology company founded in 2013 that develops and commercializes next-generation probiotics and prebiotics targeting specific gut microbiome deficiencies. Its core technology platform combines DNA sequencing, proprietary strain identification, and oxygen-free fermentation manufacturing to produce live anaerobic bacterial strains, most notably Akkermansia muciniphila, which Pendulum was the first company to bring live to the U.S. market. The product portfolio includes Metabolic Daily (a five-strain flagship), Akkermansia (gut barrier support), Glucose Control (a clinically validated medical probiotic shown to reduce A1C by 0.6 percentage points and post-meal glucose spikes by 32.5% in type 2 diabetes), Polyphenol Booster, and the newly launched Gut Fuel prebiotic fiber line; Glucose Control's clinical results were published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, and the company holds 18 granted patents with 66 pending applications.

Pendulum sells primarily through a direct-to-consumer subscription model on pendulumlife.com (SKUs priced $25-$99 per month, HSA/FSA eligible, with a 30% referral discount and a 90-day A1C trial on Glucose Control), supplemented by an affiliate program, a healthcare provider channel, and a wholesale program. In April 2026, Pendulum expanded into physical retail with a nationwide launch at Sprouts Farmers Market across the probiotics aisle and Forager Finds displays. The company targets health-conscious consumers, type 2 diabetes patients, gut-health seekers, GLP-1 medication users, and women's health segments, with growing clinical validation from partnerships with Mayo Clinic (first investor and research partner since 2013), Mass General, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Australian Catholic University, Texas Christian University, and the University of São Paulo. Pendulum has raised over $120 million across multiple funding rounds from Meritech Capital, Sequoia Capital, True Ventures, Khosla Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Mayo Clinic, and Fonterra, with celebrity investor Halle Berry serving as Chief Communications Officer and Madison Reed founder Amy Errett joining the Board in 2026 to support mainstream consumer expansion.

Name

Pendulum Therapeutics

Legal name

Pendulum Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://pendulumlife.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pendulum Therapeutics is a San Francisco-based microbiome biotechnology company founded in 2013 that develops and sells clinically validated probiotic and prebiotic supplements, including the first live Akkermansia muciniphila product in the U.S. and Glucose Control for type 2 diabetes, primarily through a DTC subscription model now expanding into Sprouts Farmers Market retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microbiome Probiotic Supplements

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Food (Health) Supplement Retailers (456191)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Probiotics (Strains, Spore-Formers, Synbiotic Components) (AFAJAKAE)

Keywords

• Microbiome probiotics
• Gut health supplements
• Diabetes probiotics
• Prebiotic fiber supplements
• Microbiome therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer Probiotic Product Sales: Primary revenue stream through pendulumlife.com e-commerce platform. Products sold as one-time purchases or subscription memberships with 30% referral discount and up to 40% savings with HSA/FSA eligibility. Subscription model provides recurring revenue with customer loyalty incentives.
2. Retail Distribution: Products sold through Sprouts Farmers Market nationwide as of April 2026, with placement in probiotics aisle and Forager Finds displays. Wholesale program available for additional retail partnerships.
3. Affiliate Program: 30-day cookie duration affiliate program offering up to 20% commission for promoters. Third-party tracking through Impact platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pendulum Therapeutics develops and sells next-generation probiotic and prebiotic supplements built on proprietary bacterial strains, most notably live Akkermansia muciniphila and a clinically validated five-strain formulation. Products are manufactured in the company's own oxygen-free U.S. facility and target consumer and clinical use cases including gut barrier integrity, metabolic health, and A1C reduction in type 2 diabetes.

Product overview

Pendulum Therapeutics offers a portfolio of next-generation probiotic and prebiotic supplements centered on microbiome-targeted health solutions. The core product line consists of proprietary probiotic formulations featuring Akkermansia muciniphila and other anaerobic bacterial strains, including Metabolic Daily (4-in-1 daily probiotic), Akkermansia (targeted gut lining support), and Glucose Control (medical probiotic for type 2 diabetes management). These are complemented by the Polyphenol Booster add-on, which provides antioxidant support to enhance probiotic efficacy. The prebiotic Gut Fuel line (available in pouch and on-the-go packet formats) rounds out the portfolio as a fiber and polyphenol blend designed to nourish beneficial gut bacteria and support metabolic health. All products are manufactured in the company's own oxygen-free facility in the U.S. and are backed by clinical research conducted in partnership with institutions like Mayo Clinic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Metabolic Daily A 4-in-1 daily probiotic featuring five proprietary bacterial strains (Akkermansia muciniphila, Clostridium butyricum, Anaerobutyricum hallii, Clostridium beijerinckii, and Bifidobacterium infantis) designed to improve gut health, metabolism, mood, and energy levels. Contains live Akkermansia and is positioned as the flagship bestseller for adult consumers.
• Akkermansia A targeted probiotic supplement featuring Akkermansia muciniphila, a keystone bacterial strain that fortifies the gut lining, reduces gut permeability, and supports metabolic function. Marketed to consumers seeking gut barrier and leaky gut support.
• Glucose Control A five-strain medical probiotic formulation containing Akkermansia muciniphila, Clostridium beijerinckii, Clostridium butyricum, Eubacterium hallii, and Bifidobacterium infantis, plus a prebiotic. Produces butyrate to stimulate GLP-1 hormone release, providing nutritional management of type 2 diabetes with clinically demonstrated A1C reduction.
• Polyphenol Booster An antioxidant-rich supplement containing grape seed extract and other plant-derived polyphenols designed to amplify probiotic performance by providing fuel for Akkermansia and other beneficial gut bacteria. Supports gut diversity and antioxidant protection.
• Gut Fuel Pouch A mix-in prebiotic fiber and polyphenol supplement that delivers 6 grams of fiber per serving through a blend of resistant potato starch, baobab, acacia, oat beta-glucan, and grape seed extract. Designed to nourish beneficial gut bacteria and support GLP-1 signaling for metabolic health.
• Gut Fuel Packets On-the-go individual serving packets of the Gut Fuel prebiotic fiber and polyphenol supplement, providing the same 6g fiber blend as the pouch format in convenient single-serve packaging.
• Metabolic Daily Bundle A bundled offering combining the Metabolic Daily flagship probiotic with the Polyphenol Booster at a discounted price ($74/month subscription vs $84 separate), enabling consumers to purchase the core probiotic along with its recommended complementary supplement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces A1C by 0.6 percentage points in type 2 diabetes patients on metformin
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mayo CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Mayo Clinic is Pendulum's first investor and continuing research partner. The company is the first consumer microbiome company to co-develop a registry with Mayo Clinic. Partnership dating back to 2013 includes ongoing clinical research collaborations, with expanded scope into women's health and dermatology. Dr. Jay Pasricha serves as Chief of Medicine at Mayo Clinic on Pendulum's Medical Advisory Board. Dr. Purna Kashyap, MBBS, also from Mayo Clinic on Medical Advisory Board.
• Sprouts Farmers MarketcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNationwide retail distribution partnership launched April 2026, coinciding with Sprouts Wellness Week (April 22-28). Products available in probiotics aisle and featured on Forager Finds displays.
• The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRO-PLATINUM clinical trial: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating efficacy of probiotic intervention on gut and vaginal microbiome of ovarian cancer patients undergoing platinum chemotherapy. 124 participants, conducted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
• Massachusetts General HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhase 1 clinical trial on Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) for Auto-Brewery Syndrome, funded by NIH. Explores safety and tolerability of antibiotic pretreatment, microbial restoration via FMT, and daily administration of Pendulum Metabolic Daily for 9 months.
• Australian Catholic UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsteoPreP Study: Evaluating how Pendulum probiotics can support bone health in early postmenopausal women. 12-month double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with 160 participants. Professor Mattias Lorentzon from Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research leading.
• Texas Christian UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTriple-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial on next-generation synbiotic for individuals who are overweight or with obesity. Evaluating impacts of Pendulum Glucose Control on body composition, metabolic health, mood, and food behavior.
• University of São Paulo (FMSUP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating antidepressant efficacy of adjunctive probiotic administration in participants with bipolar depression. 84 participants, 12-week study.
• GluCare.HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundbreaking research collaboration announced December 2024 to evaluate impact of novel next-generation probiotics on metabolic health.
• Halle BerrycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOscar-winning actress Halle Berry invested in Pendulum and serves as Chief Communications Officer and brand evangelist since February 2023. Brings celebrity endorsement and wellness credibility to the brand.
• Amy ErrettminorOthersMadison Reed Founder and CEO appointed to Board of Directors in June 2026. Brings expertise in building consumer brands and scaling mission-driven businesses to guide Pendulum's expansion into mainstream consumer health.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ritual: Direct-to-consumer supplement brand with science-backed positioning, transparent ingredient sourcing, and a strong DTC subscription business. Comparable in target consumer demographic, premium DTC positioning, and clinical evidence-based marketing.
• Seed Health: Direct-to-consumer microbiome company selling proprietary probiotic formulations (Seed Daily Synbiotic) with a strong scientific and clinical positioning. Highly comparable to Pendulum in target consumer, premium subscription model, and science-led marketing approach.
• ZOE: Personalized nutrition company combining gut microbiome testing with dietary recommendations and supplement products. Direct competitor for consumer mindshare around microbiome-driven health, with a similar science-backed subscription model and clinical research emphasis.
• Viome: Microbiome testing and personalized nutrition/supplement company that analyzes gut microbiome samples to recommend customized prebiotic and probiotic formulations. Comparable target customer, DTC subscription model, and gut health focus.
• Thorne: Premium supplement brand offering practitioner-grade and DTC nutritional products with strong scientific validation and NSF/USP certifications. Comparable in science-led marketing, premium positioning, and clinical credibility, though broader portfolio than Pendulum.
• AG1 (Athletic Greens): High-growth DTC nutrition company selling a comprehensive daily greens and probiotic powder with celebrity endorsements and a premium subscription model. Comparable in DTC scale, celebrity-driven marketing, and health-conscious consumer targeting.
• BioGaia: Swedish probiotics company with patented Lactobacillus reuteri strains used in supplements and infant formula. Direct competitor in the probiotics space with proprietary strain IP, though operates through healthcare professional and consumer health channels rather than primarily DTC.

Broad incumbents

• Danone (Nutricia): Global food and dairy giant with a major probiotics portfolio (Actimel, Activia) and the Nutricia medical nutrition division. Operates across probiotics, functional nutrition, and microbiome research, competing indirectly for the same consumer health positioning.
• Novonesis (formerly Chr. Hansen): Global bioscience company and one of the world's largest producers of probiotic bacterial cultures, supplying ingredients to supplement and dairy companies. Overlaps with Pendulum's strain-level microbiome science, but operates as a B2B ingredient supplier rather than a consumer brand.
• Yakult: Japanese multinational and global leader in probiotic functional beverages, with decades of Lactobacillus casei strain research. Competes for consumer share-of-stomach around gut health benefits, though in the functional beverage rather than supplement format.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pendulumlife42/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/PendulumLife
• Instagraminstagram.com/pendulumlifeco
• TikToktiktok.com/@pendulumlife
• Xx.com/Pendulum_Co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors13 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pendulum Therapeutics