BASF and Nuritas Collaborate to Develop New Peptide Ingredients

19 Jan 2017 --- BASF Human Nutrition and Nuritas have announced that they are collaborating in the commercialization and discovery of health-benefiting bioactive peptide networks that aim to improve human health and nutrition.

BASF, one of the market leaders in the human nutrition industry, alrady offers a broad portfolio of essential nutrients for health prevention, while Nuritas is a rapidly growing, award-winning digital biotechnology and R&D company which has created remarkable interest globally for its peptide-finding platform capabilities.

The initial part of the substantial deal sees Nuritas grant an exclusive, royalty-based license to BASF to commercialize one of its existing peptides across a number of applications. The second component of the collaboration entails on-demand discovery of new peptides, based on health areas that are strategically important to BASF’s customers and, ultimately, the consumer.

Peptides are biologically occurring short chains of amino acids that act as potent signaling molecules in the body. The peptide networks of focus in this collaboration are natural, food-derived, patented and of significant benefit to the health of consumers. These health benefits include for example anti-inflammatory activities.

Talking with NutritionInsight, Emmet Browne, CEO of Nurtias explained how the peptides will be able to help consumers lead a healthier life.

"The health benefits of the peptide networks of focus may include for example anti-inflammatory activities," he said, "and will be used in different applications in the dietary supplement and food market."

He added, "The ingredients that will be brought to the market are going to be truly life-changing and thus we are very excited to partner with one of the most innovative and far-reaching nutrition leaders to ensure these ingredients get into the hands of those that need them."

To drive the on-demand discovery of new peptides, Nuritas will deploy its unique technology platform which uses Artificial Intelligence and DNA analysis to predict, unlock, and validate highly efficacious peptides, exclusively from natural sources.

BASF will use its scientific know-how and global reach for the scale-up, formulation and commercialization of new bioactive peptide ingredients.

“Cooperating with an innovative and agile start-up like Nuritas enables us to further expand our already broad portfolio of health solutions”, said Saori Dubourg, who heads BASF’s Nutrition & Health Business.

“We think that Nuritas is bringing a truly unique and innovative approach in addition to the actual ingredient to the table”, added François Scheffler, who heads BASF’s Global Human Nutrition and Pharma Solutions Businesses.

“Therefore our cooperation with them makes us as BASF an even stronger partner for our customers, to fully support them in delivering highly efficacious solutions under the Newtrition brand – which means delivering the right nutrients to the right people at the right time.”

Browne added, “As a young, disruptive company, this agreement further accelerates our vision of improving the lives of billions of people worldwide through the predicted discovery of bioactive peptides.”

“We know this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship for both companies as well as for so many consumers."

by Hannah Gardiner

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