Beyond The Headlines: Harvard “pilgrims” to get nutrition coaching, Hill’s Pet Nutrition helps shelters

16 Aug 2024 --- In nutrition news this week, Good Measures and Point32Health are collaborating to bring personalized nutrition coaching to help Harvard Pilgrim members lose weight and PLT Health Solutions launched the Differentiate Different business initiative. Meanwhile, Sirio Pharma’s Ubidecarenone chewable gels was added to the US Pharmacopoeia (USP) monograph and Hill’s Pet Nutrition teamed up with cat behavior expert Jackson Galaxy to find homes for pets in overcrowded shelters.

Nutrition news

Good Measures and Point32Health, the parent company of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, have partnered to bring personalized nutrition coaching to eligible commercial Harvard Pilgrim members to help lose weight and to prevent and manage diet-related diseases. The Good Measures Program offers individual sessions with registered dietitians and access to the Good Measures app, including online classes, personalized food recommendations and food tracking. The opt-in program includes tailored support to members who are taking or considering taking GLP-1 prescription medications. More than 600 members have enrolled in the program, which launched in May. Eligible Harvard Pilgrim members who choose to participate in the program receive nutrition counseling, personalized support and program management and goal setting strategies.

Biotechnology research company Amulet has raised US$5.8 million in Series A financing led by HealthX Ventures to develop and commercialize a pocket-sized food allergen sensor that will significantly improve health outcomes. Amulet equips individuals and businesses with portable sensors containing rapid, on-site molecular detection technology that helps keep food safe from allergens, toxins and contaminants. With the new round of funding the company is well-positioned to scale its team, expand its detection portfolio and execute a full product launch to serve its growing waiting list. Amulet created Allergy Amulet, a consumer brand with a signature wearable device that enables people to test for food allergens on-the-go and Amulet Scientific, a commercial brand with a detection platform.

Ingredient innovator PLT Health Solutions unveiled its Differentiate Different business initiative designed to support major innovation opportunities for its supplement and food and beverage customers at the 2024 Nutrition Business Journal Summit in California. The initiative focuses on the range of resources that the company has put in place to empower disruptive, experiential consumer product development, including gold-standard clinical science, unique ingredient and formulation concepts, compelling consumer product messaging and regulatory and sustainability expertise.Cat behavior expert Jackson Galaxy helps prospective pet parents bring home a shelter animal. 

Chemicals and ingredients distributor LBB Specialties has expanded into the Puerto Rico and Latin America life sciences markets to support innovation across the industry and growth in local economies. In line with the move the company has appointed industry veteran Albit Negron as the business development director of Life Sciences for the region. LBB Specialties will leverage its extensive product portfolio, industry knowledge and strong supply chain to deliver exceptional value to pharmaceutical, biologics and medical device companies in the region. The company aims to accelerate innovation and support the development of life-saving products.

Regulations and accreditations

Global nutraceutical contract development and manufacturing organization, Sirio Pharma has succeeded at having its Ubidecarenone chewable gels added to the USP monograph after three years of working with the organization to establish the required candidate documentary and reference standards. The new standards will be the benchmark against which all future products are validated in terms of quality standards, minimum dose criteria and formulation. USP reference standards are used to assess nutraceutical specifications including identity, potency, quality and purity of dietary supplements and active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Con-Crēt Creatine HCl powders and capsules recently earned certification from National Sanitation Foundation’s (NSF) Certified for Sport program. In addition to the NSF certification, all the brand’s products are manufactured in the US in a Safe Quality Food and FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certified facility, ensuring each product meets rigorous quality control measures at every step of production. Products that earn certified for Sport accreditation are tested for 280 athletic banned substances and potentially harmful levels of specific contaminants like lead, arsenic and other heavy metals. Product formulation, label claims and GMP compliance are also verified as part of this rigorous supplement certification program.

NPD

Gat Sport launched a new pre-workout supplement range Nitraflex Ultra in blue raspberry, strawberry watermelon and peach pineapple flavors. The range is the successor to the Nitraflex Advanced series. The clinically dosed pre-workout formula is designed for the fitness enthusiast to push the boundaries of athletic performance. The formula offers explosive energy, heightened focus, enhanced hydration and enhanced muscle performance.

Promino Nutritional Sciences’ new Promino and Rejuvenate Muscle Activator products, released in July, are now featured on Vitacost, the Boca Raton, Florida-based e-commerce retailer owned by The Kroger Co. Vitacost is one of the largest online sellers of vitamins and health and wellness products. With revenue of over US$38 million in June 2024, Vitacost is a premier global destination for customers to search and learn about quality supplements.

Pet health and wellness

With animal shelters facing critical overcapacity for the fourth year in a row, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and cat behavior expert Jackson Galaxy have teamed up for the 10th anniversary of NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters, pet adoption and donations campaign. The campaign, which runs until September 10, supports over-capacity shelters by finding new homes for animals. Galaxy’s extensive experience working with shelters makes him adept at strategies to reduce the stress for animals and their owners during the adoption process. Hill’s will provide adoption kits to help new pet parents and their pets, including starter bags of its Science Diet, coupons, pet-parenting tips and other supplies. The company is providing more than US$100,000 to support the Clear The Shelters Fund hosted by Greater Good Charities.Gat Sport launched its new pre-workout range. 

Pet health and wellness player, Better Choice Company, released its second quarter results ended June 30, 2024, showing that revenue increased 8% to US$8.5 million from the first quarter. The gross margin increased 403 basis points year-over-year (YOY) to 38%. Operating loss improved 72% to US$0.7 million and the operating margin improved 1,605 basis points YOY to 8%. Net income increased to $2.7 million and earnings per share improved 170%. 

Research collaborations

Health science company Sabinsa has deepened its ties with scientific research institutions. Sabinsa Global CEO and managing director Shaheen Majeed met with premier institutions in the Indian State of Karnataka, regarded for their advanced research, innovations and excellence in education. The meeting aims to strengthen ties through potential collaborations and mutually beneficial partnerships. Majeed and Dr. Devaraj Reddy, COO of the Sami-Sabinsa Group, met with Gandhi Krishi Vignam Kendra, the vice chancellor of the University of Mysore, to discuss possible research collaborations in the increasingly important domains of probiotics and synthetic chemistry and the University of Agricultural Sciences.

Innovation awards

Roquette received the Biopharma Innovation of the Year award for 2024 at Biologics Manufacturing Korea and Vaccine World East Asia Congress 2024. The accolade recognizes the company’s contributions to advancing pharmaceutical innovation with its Kleptose Biopharma hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin solution. The formulation enhances protein recovery, reduces particle formation and stabilizes antibodies. It effectively addresses subvisible particle formation and provides viscosity reduction for highly concentrated monoclonal antibodies. Its effectiveness in reducing aggregation in antibody-drug conjugates and its wide application in vaccine development make it a vital tool for the biopharma sector. 

By Inga de Jong