European expansion: BASF launches omega 3 solution for the dietary management of NAFLD

03 Dec 2019 --- BASF Nutrition & Health is set to release its omega 3 fatty acid solution Hepacor in the European market, in collaboration with Swiss pharmaceutical company Ideogen. The solution, produced with proprietary technology, can help patients manage Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) by elevating healthy lipids in the bloodstream. Hepacor will be marketed, sold and distributed as a food supplement for special medical purposes across Switzerland through Ideogen. The Swiss launch is a European first for the product, but BASF hopes to further expand Hepacor’s footprint in Europe going forward.

“The launch of Hepacor in Switzerland marks a major milestone in BASF’s plans to commercialize a dedicated solution for NAFLD management globally. Together with Ideogen, the BASF team has undergone a rigorous process to bring Hepacor to continental Europe and address a growing concern for patients with NAFLD,” says Christoph Garbotz, Head of Commercial Management Advanced Health Solutions, BASF.

With its European production and supply chain set up successfully, BASF is ready to collaborate with interested partners in greater Europe, Garbotz adds. 

The launch of Hepacor in Switzerland marks a major milestone in BASF’s plans to commercialize a solution for NAFLD management globally.“With over 700 million people living in Europe and its overarching regulatory framework for ‘Food for Special Medical Purposes’ (FSMPs), Europe as a whole represents an attractive growth opportunity for BASF in its expansion plans for Hepacor. We are in advanced discussions with potential partners for upcoming launches in selected countries in Europe. Beyond Europe, we also see an unmet need for a dedicated NAFLD management solution especially in additional markets in North and South America,” Lay Kwan Goh, Global Head of Marketing, BASF Human Nutrition, tells NutritionInsight.

The importance of omega 3 for general health and wellness have previously been spotlighted by research. The fatty acids can prove beneficial to an array of health areas – from supplementation during pregnancy proving beneficial for both mothers and offspring to boosting brain and heart health.

Containing highly concentrated and purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Hepacor is uniquely designed to correct the nutritional deficiency of patients with NAFLD and can address a buildup of fat in the liver, known as steatosis, in NAFLD patients. 

NAFLD is one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease worldwide. Studies have shown that NAFLD patients suffer from EPA and DHA deficiency. A previous BASF-endorsed clinical study showed that Hepacor corrects this deficiency and raises the levels of these important fatty acids in the blood. Increasing the levels of EPA and DHA can help to reduce the fat burden in the liver by improving the liver’s ability to process excessive pre-existing fat, and at the same time, inhibit the creation of new fat from dietary carbohydrates.

“NAFLD has become one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease worldwide. Global prevalence is estimated to be around 20 to 30 percent. Launching Hepacor on the first market in continental Europe represents a major milestone in BASF’s efforts to offer a solution for the dietary management of NAFLD,” notes Goh.

According to the company, 25 percent of people in Switzerland are living with NAFLD and Hepacor can contribute to their liver health by raising the levels of EPA and DHA needed for managing the disease.

The solution is manufactured in Norway using a patented purification technology to reduce persistent organic pollutants and other substances like unwanted lipids such as cholesterol, which are naturally found in all fish oil-based products. Research on rodents has also shown that one specific environmental pollutant, PCB 153, contributes to the development of NAFLD, BASF highlights. Hepacor is manufactured to minimize unnecessary exposure of NAFLD patients to such unwanted components of fish oil.

“BASF was looking for a partner that has the required commercial competencies, local market knowledge, access and size to lift such an opportunity combined with an experienced management team that sees the unique opportunity around Hepacor. We also recognize the dedication and efforts that Ideogen has put behind the collaboration and our product right from the beginning,” Goh concludes.

By Kristiana Lalou