Nammex unveils pure lion’s mane mycelium ingredient for cognitive health

Canada-based Nammex Mushrooms has launched ErinaPrime, a 100% pure freeze-dried lion’s mane mycelium powder. The company says the ingredient contains over 90 times more erinacine A content than similar products on the market. This clinically studied neuroactive compound is exclusively found in the mushroom’s mycelium. 

The powder was developed as a neuroactive mycelium ingredient, with optimized production for this compound’s expression, consistency, and analytical verification. 

“Nammex has historically focused on organic mushroom extract powders because most mycelium ingredients on the market are mycelium fermented grain products with chemical profiles much closer to the grain substrate than to pure mycelium,” says Skye Chilton, CEO of Nammex.

“ErinaPrime is fundamentally different. It is 100% pure lion’s mane mycelium standardized to 1% erinacine A, produced through a sophisticated submerged liquid fermentation process designed specifically to preserve and optimize these compounds.”

Pure mycelium

The ingredient is cultivated through a proprietary submerged liquid fermentation process and processed post-harvesting with precision freeze-drying to preserve the mycelium’s biochemical profile without extraction or solvents.

“Protecting the integrity of the erinacines is paramount throughout the entire process,” says Chilton. “Mycelium is fragile, and consistently producing meaningful levels of erinacine A at commercial scale requires specialized expertise in strain optimization, liquid culture fermentation, analytical verification, and quality assurance. Every stage of production is focused on preserving the biochemical composition and consistency of the mycelium.”

ErinaPrime was created through Nammex’s partnership with Novelara and produced by Grape King Bio, a Taiwan-based biotechnology company that aims to unlock the health benefits of traditional Chinese mushroom mycelia.

ErinaPrime contains over more erinacine A content than mycelium fermented grain products on the market (Image credit: Nammex).Paul Eftang, CEO of Novelara, comments: “We spent the better part of a decade building the scientific infrastructure to make this possible: a mushroom research facility, a reference standard manufacturing lab, and new analytical methods developed specifically to standardize erinacine A.”

“Our partners at Grape King Bio built a state-of-the-art liquid bioreactor facility capable of producing pure lion’s mane mycelium standardized to erinacine A at commercial scale. Based on testing at Omnient Labs, ErinaPrime contains more than 90 times the erinacine A content of the average lion’s mane sample evaluated, underscoring just how differentiated this ingredient is from anything currently in the category.”

Neurocognitive health support

According to Nammex, brands formulating with ErinaPrime can expect “clinically significant levels of erinacine A” as the ingredient contains 10 mg per g of the compound. Erinacine A has been associated with clinically validated structure and function support for neurocognitive health at 3 mg.

The company also says that ErinaPrime’s potency levels are verified through validated analytical testing conducted by an independent laboratory.

The mycelium ingredient is also supported by a research program, as Grape King Bio has completed several human clinical trials. Nammex says that additional studies are underway to investigate the neurocognitive potential of lion’s mane mycelium compounds, specifically erinacines.

The company notes this ongoing research is contributing to a growing scientific understanding of standardized lion’s mane mycelium and supports formulation development within the cognitive health category. Lion’s mane has been extensively researched for its impact on cognitive enhancement and neuroprotective effects, the CEO of Biosan Biotechnology previously told Nutrition Insight.

Eftang adds that Novelara partners with Nammex to extend the reach of ErinaPrima and help push the mushroom ingredient category toward higher-quality, science-founded ingredients.

“Nammex has spent decades building trust through education, quality, and responsible commercialization, making them an ideal partner for bringing this next-generation lion’s mane ingredient to a broader market.”