Introducing Kappa Solutions: Kappa Biosciences’ Synthetica rebrand to boost testing capabilities

03 Nov 2021 --- Kappa Bioscience, a vitamin production company, is enhancing its stability testing with its new subsidiary Kappa Solutions – a rebrand from its Synthetica.

Kappa Solutions will provide custom synthesis (combination of constituents), drug development and the synthesis and analysis of non‑commercial organic chemicals for the dietary supplements and pharmaceutical industries.

“This change is entirely in line with Kappa’s strategy to deliver value by complementing its existing offerings. It also opens up new market opportunities in the pharma and consumer healthcare and nutrition industries under one brand architecture,” Dr. Inger Reidun Aukrust, vice president R&D and chemistry at Kappa Bioscience, tells NutritionInsight.

“The rebranding and new name emphasize the solution-oriented, customer-centric approach of Kappa Solutions. It also highlights its extensive portfolio for custom organic synthesis, process development, analytical services, and drug development, including cGMP manufacturing and certification, for the pharmaceutical and dietary supplements industries.”

We aim to strengthen the overarching Kappa Bioscience value proposition and harmonize the brand with this change, comments Egil Greve, CEO of Kappa Bioscience.

Vitamin K2 MK-7 as a reference standard
Vitamin K2 MK-7 has become an analytical lab reference standard due to the previous efforts to develop the product.

“When developing the vitamin K2 MK-7 product for Kappa Bioscience, efforts were taken in developing a pure product and thereby also characterizing the molecule as if it was to become an active pharmaceutical ingredient,” explains Greve.Dr. Inger Reidun Aukrust, vice president of R&D and chemistry at Kappa Bioscience.

The documentation and purity allowed Kappa to introduce the reference standard for vitamin K2 MK7.

Also, Kappa made this available for all when US Pharmacopeia (USP) adopted the testing method and included Kappa’s pure MK7 as their reference standard.

The company became the certified vendor to USP on this basis.

Custom organic synthesis and analytical services
The nutraceutical industry has already experienced the results provided by Kappa Solutions, notes Aukrust.

“Kappa Solutions brings experience in vitamin K2 synthesis, a cGMP certified lab, and a portfolio of organic chemistry and analytical service offerings to clients.”

“The proprietary technology used in manufacturing K2Vital, the vitamin K2 product of Kappa Bioscience, is developed by Kappa Solutions and the widely used analytical testing methodologies for vitamin K2 is developed by Kappa Solutions,” she adds.Egil Greve, CEO of Kappa Bioscience.

Additionally, Kappa Solutions introduced the importance of purity and cis/trans ratio (geometric isomerism) when assessing the quality of vitamin K2, a principle now used by all manufacturers of vitamin K2, explains Aukrust.

The need for accurate testing
As recurrent studies show that food supplements content often does not meet the label claims, testing is becoming a significant matter.

“In 2013, we started the first global program testing the stability of finished products that contained vitamin K2 together with minerals,” states Aukrust.

“Vitamin K2 is not stable in alkaline environments unless microencapsulated. Out of hundreds of products tested, about 90% failed to meet their label claims. Worse, 40% had no detectable vitamin K2.”

Additionally, innovations like microencapsulation or new delivery formats, such as gummies or soft chews, can pose a problem for the analytical labs, notes Aukrust.

“However, to perform tests, knowledge of the appropriate methods adapted to the product’s composition and galenic formulation is needed. We have the experience developing such methods and give guidance to labs globally,” concludes Aukrust.

Kappa Biosciences’ previous moves
Previously, Kappa Bioscience partnered with Lonza to use its ingredients such as collagen, ensuring a cost-effective and scientifically backed formulation in the nutraceutical market.

In September, Kappa Bioscience unveiled a resolute “Brand & Plant” program to lower its greenhouse emissions, and the company emphasized vitamin K2’s effectiveness in improving immunity.

By Nicole Kerr