Bioiberica and Apsen rejoin forces to launch collagen capsule for mobility in Brazil

26 Apr 2021 --- Pharmaceutical expert Apsen Farmacêutica has reached out again to Bioiberica’s collagen ingredients to develop a mobility product for the Brazilian market. 

Branded as “Motilex HA,” the new product combines two of Bioiberica’s joint health ingredients to help reduce pain and inflammation and maintain joint function:

• Mobilee: A patented ingredient that combines hyaluronic acid with polysaccharides and collagen.
• b-2Cool: Undenatured type II collagen in its biologically active form.

Speaking with NutritionInsight, an Apsen spokesperson explains Motilex HA complements treatments for early stages of osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease in packs of 30 and 60 capsules. 

Native type II collagen – called a “new generation collagen” – has notably gained a rapid foothold in the Brazilian market thanks to its efficacy at low doses, Bioiberica healthcare director Jaume Reguant also comments.

Mobilee and b-2Cool are “highly efficacious” at 80 mg per day and 40 mg per day, respectively, says Reguant. “Motilex HA is therefore available in small, easy-to-swallow capsules, helping to improve treatment adherence among consumers.” 

Motilex HA combines two of Bioiberica’s joint health ingredients to help reduce pain and inflammation.Synergistic ingredient combos
Motilex HA is a continuation of last year’s market debut of Motilex, a powdered food supplement that was also created in a Bioiberica-Apsen collaboration. Motilex contains b-2Cool, but not Mobilee, which is how the two similarly named products differ.

However, the Motilex HA launch was motivated by a study published in the Osteoarthritis and Cartilage journal last year. It found significant joint and mobility health benefits when combining b-2Cool with Mobilee, in addition to chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride.

“Historically, the mobility market in Brazil has been dominated by chondroitin and glucosamine products, as they are widely available on prescription. In recent years, however, advancements in the nutraceutical space have meant that innovative ingredients targeting mobility can compete directly with these prescription products,” Reguant explains.

He notes hydrolyzed collagen was one of the first to break into the sector. Since then, natural ingredients continue to challenge chondroitin and glucosamine off their mobility sector podium.

Launched in 2018, Motilex Caps was the first member of the Motilex product family. Motilex Caps is composed of non-hydrolyzed type II collagen that assists in maintaining joint function.

“During these three years, the product has been growing and its performance is above the market,” says the Apsen spokesperson. “We hope and believe that Motilex HA will perform as well as Motilex Caps.”

Brazil’s growing elderly population
Mobility ingredients are becoming increasingly relevant for a global population set to reach 10 billion by 2050. The World Health Organization (WHO) further maintains population aging is happening “more quickly than in the past.” 

For example, France had almost 150 years to adapt to a change in the population proportion that was older than 60 years, which grew from 10 to 20 percent. In contrast, Brazil will take slightly more than 20 years to make the same adaptation. WHO predicts Brazil’s elderly population stands to reach 49 million by 2050. 

The WHO has further declared 2021 to 2030 as the “Decade of Healthy Ageing,” while sharpening its focus on nutrition as one of the key factors in maintaining vitality.

“The regulatory requirements for nutraceuticals in Brazil are strict,” says Reguant, noting b-2Cool and Mobilee both have ANVISA authorization.Keeping the mobility momentum going 
In this space, Bioiberica’s patented ingredients continue to draw the mobility sector’s attention. Last year, b-2Cool Bioiberica’s native type II collagen b-2Cool was featured in Laboratorios Ordesa’s Colnatur Forte launch. Nestlé Health Science also incorporated Mobilee into its existing Meritene Mobilis joint health drink mix last June.

The Motilex HA launch is not Bioiberica’s first move in Brazil. Last year, The Health Regulatory Agency of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (ANVISA) provided the company marketing authorization for Mobilee as a novel food ingredient in the country.

The authorization strengthened Bioiberica’s market positioning in Brazil, a strategic market for the company that was already present in the joint health segment with b-2Cool. 

The renewed partnership between Bioiberica and Apsen demonstrates how the lines between the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical words continue to overlap. Reguant further discussed the advantages of striking partnerships to advance industry innovation in a video interview last week.

“This latest [Motilex HA] development is born from Bioiberica’s long-standing partnership with Apsen. We are always open to discuss future innovative opportunities,” the Apsen spokesperson hints.

By Anni Schleicher