UAS Laboratories
UAS Laboratories is a United States biotechnology company that formulates, manufactures, and markets probiotic products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
UAS Laboratories, formally United Agricultural Services Laboratories, is a privately established biotechnology company focused on probiotic products. The company was founded in 1979 by Dr. S. K. Dash and developed around the research, formulation, manufacturing, and commercialization of probiotic microorganisms for dietary and health-related applications. Its operations have included both domestic and international markets. A central part of the company’s identity has been its use of Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1, a proprietary strain that was patented and trademarked and became the basis of the company’s DDS Probiotics product family. L. acidophilus is one of the most widely studied probiotic species, and the DDS-1 strain provided UAS Laboratories with a differentiated technical platform rather than positioning its products solely as generic supplements. The company’s activities have therefore combined strain-related research and intellectual property with commercial production and distribution. UAS Laboratories historically maintained corporate operations in Minnesota before moving its headquarters to Wausau, Wisconsin. Its probiotic fermentation work has been conducted at a Madison, Wisconsin facility, while formulation, manufacturing, and distribution have been associated with the Wausau operation. In 2012, under Dr. Dash’s direction, the company expanded its production capability and reportedly tripled its probiotic manufacturing capacity, marking an important scaling phase. The ownership structure changed in April 2013, when Lakeview Equity Partners acquired the company. UAS Laboratories subsequently moved its sales and marketing office to Madison in January 2014. In April 2018, it broadened its supplier and product base by acquiring Nebraska Cultures, Inc., a probiotic supplier. Later that year, it entered into a licensing agreement with Ace Biome covering the manufacture and commercialization of the patented probiotic strain Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17. Chr. Hansen Holding acquired UAS Laboratories in 2020 for approximately $530 million, according to the cited reference material. That transaction placed UAS Laboratories within a larger international bioscience and ingredients group. The available reference material does not establish the brand’s current standalone operating status, leadership, product range beyond the named strains and DDS Probiotics line, or whether it continues to operate as an independent commercial brand after the acquisition.
History
UAS Laboratories was founded in 1979 by Dr. S. K. Dash, who had previously served as director of the South Dakota Food and Drug operation. The company was established as United Agricultural Services Laboratories and became known commercially as UAS Laboratories. Its business developed around probiotic research, formulation, manufacturing, and marketing. The company’s principal technical platform was Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1. This strain was patented and trademarked and became the basis for the DDS Probiotics line. By concentrating on a defined strain with proprietary status, UAS Laboratories distinguished its offering from products marketed only by species or broad probiotic category. The company’s work included probiotic fermentation, formulation, and distribution for domestic and international markets. UAS Laboratories was historically headquartered in Edina, Minnesota. Its manufacturing and operational footprint later extended into Wisconsin. Fermentation was carried out at a facility in Madison, while formulation, manufacturing, and distribution were associated with the company’s facility in Wausau. Under Dash’s direction, the company expanded production capacity in 2012 and reportedly tripled its probiotic manufacturing capacity. Ownership changed in April 2013, when Lakeview Equity Partners acquired UAS Laboratories. In January 2014, the company moved its sales and marketing office to Madison, Wisconsin, aligning its commercial operations more closely with its Wisconsin activity. The company continued to expand its probiotic capabilities and supplier relationships. In April 2018, it acquired Nebraska Cultures, Inc., described in the reference material as a probiotic supplier. In July of the same year, UAS Laboratories announced a licensing agreement with Ace Biome. The agreement covered the manufacture and commercialization of Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17, a patented probiotic strain, adding another named strain to the company’s commercial and technical portfolio. In 2020, Chr. Hansen Holding purchased UAS Laboratories for approximately $530 million. This acquisition represented the company’s transition into the ownership of a larger international bioscience group. The available material does not provide sufficient information to determine whether UAS Laboratories currently operates as a separate legal entity, a continuing brand, or an integrated business unit. It also does not identify later executives, current facilities, current product names, or a current official website.
- 2020
Acquired by Chr. Hansen Holding
[1]Chr. Hansen Holding purchased UAS Laboratories for approximately $530 million, according to the cited reference.
- 2018
Nebraska Cultures acquired
[1]The company acquired probiotic supplier Nebraska Cultures, Inc. in April.
- 2018
BNR17 licensing agreement announced
[1]UAS Laboratories announced an agreement with Ace Biome to manufacture and commercialize Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17.
- 2014
Sales and marketing office relocated
[1]UAS Laboratories moved its sales and marketing office to Madison, Wisconsin, in January.
- 2013
Acquired by Lakeview Equity Partners
[1]Lakeview Equity Partners acquired UAS Laboratories in April.
- 2012
Manufacturing capacity expanded
[1]Under Dr. Dash’s direction, the company expanded production and reportedly tripled its probiotic manufacturing capacity.
- 1979
Company founded
[1]Dr. S. K. Dash founded United Agricultural Services Laboratories, later commonly known as UAS Laboratories.
Products and positioning
A science- and strain-focused probiotic company emphasizing proprietary bacterial strains, fermentation capability, product formulation, and international commercialization.
Probiotic supplements
DDS Probiotics
The DDS Probiotics family is associated with UAS Laboratories’ use of Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1, a patented and trademarked probiotic strain. The line reflects the company’s strain-specific approach to probiotic formulation and commercialization. The available reference does not provide a complete list of individual products, dosage forms, markets, or current availability.
Probiotic strain
Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1
Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 was the principal probiotic strain associated with UAS Laboratories. The company based its DDS Probiotics products on this patented and trademarked strain, using it as a technical and commercial differentiator. The reference material identifies the strain’s role but does not specify the full evidence base or all products incorporating it.
Probiotic strain · 2018
Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17
Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 is a patented probiotic strain covered by UAS Laboratories’ 2018 licensing agreement with Ace Biome. The agreement concerned its manufacture and commercialization. The available source does not establish the final product names, launch timing, or current commercial status associated with the strain.
Brand decisions
2020
Sell the company to Chr. Hansen HoldingM&ABackground
UAS Laboratories was acquired as part of the consolidation of probiotic and bioscience businesses.
Action taken
Chr. Hansen Holding purchased UAS Laboratories for approximately $530 million.
Aftermath
UAS Laboratories became part of Chr. Hansen Holding’s broader group. The available material does not clarify the subsequent standalone status of the brand.
Reported acquisition value. Approximately $530 million (2020)
2018
Acquire Nebraska CulturesM&ABackground
UAS Laboratories sought to broaden its probiotic supplier and operating base.
Action taken
The company acquired Nebraska Cultures, Inc. in April 2018.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded UAS Laboratories’ relationship with the probiotic supply sector; the source does not detail integration or financial outcomes.
2018
License BNR17 probiotic strainOtherBackground
Ace Biome held a patented Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 strain that UAS Laboratories sought to commercialize.
Action taken
UAS Laboratories entered a licensing agreement with Ace Biome to manufacture and commercialize BNR17.
Aftermath
The agreement added a second specifically identified patented strain to the company’s portfolio; subsequent commercial results are not stated.
2012
Expand probiotic production capacityStrategyBackground
Growing probiotic activity required additional manufacturing capability.
Action taken
UAS Laboratories expanded production capacity and reportedly tripled its probiotic manufacturing capacity.
Aftermath
The expansion increased the company’s reported manufacturing scale, although later capacity figures are not provided.
Recent events
- 2020
Chr. Hansen acquires UAS Laboratories[1]
M&A
Chr. Hansen Holding purchased UAS Laboratories in 2020 in a transaction reported at approximately $530 million.
- 2018
UAS Laboratories acquires Nebraska Cultures[1]
M&A
UAS Laboratories acquired probiotic supplier Nebraska Cultures, Inc. in April 2018.
- 2018
UAS Laboratories licenses Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17[1]
Product launch · Other
The company announced a licensing agreement with Ace Biome in July 2018 covering manufacture and commercialization of the patented probiotic strain Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17.
- 2014
UAS Laboratories moves sales and marketing office to Madison[1]
Other
The company moved its sales and marketing office to Madison, Wisconsin, in January 2014.
- 2013
UAS Laboratories acquired by Lakeview Equity Partners[1]
M&A
Lakeview Equity Partners acquired UAS Laboratories in April 2013, changing the company’s ownership structure.
Sources2 sources
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