Nestlé Health Science and Bioiberica join forces on joint health drink mix

16 Jun 2020 --- Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) will incorporate Bioiberica’s patented ingredient, Mobilee, into its existing Meritene Mobilis joint health drink mix. The ingredient aims to bolster Meritene Mobilis’s mobility health profile with its high concentration of hyaluronic acid, collagen and polysaccharides, which have been scientifically shown to contribute to the maintenance of joint and muscle health. NHSc tells NutritionInsight that the launch is an “ideal opportunity” to cater to consumers in the above 50 age group who seek a holistic approach to support mobility with nutrition.

“We were looking for ways to launch a joint health product not only with differentiated ingredients, but ingredients that were proven and backed by clinical evidence. The collaboration was [therefore] a mutual one between both parties,” the NHSc spokesperson says.

Indeed, the partnership agreement has brought a wealth of benefits for both parties, Jaume Reguant, Healthcare Director at Bioiberica, also tells NutritionInsight. “The goal from both sides was to deliver an innovative solution for joint health and mobility through science-based nutritional ingredients. Partnering with a well-respected and widely known company like NHSc will help to bring Bioiberica’s innovative ingredients to a wider market. Together, we believe we can have a real impact on the mobility space.”

Reguant continues that joint health has become a major public health concern worldwide, largely due to an aging population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.66 million hip fractures occur each year worldwide. That incidence is set to increase four-fold by 2050 due to the increasing aging population.

The Meritene brand has well established itself in the healthy aging market in Italy, says the NHSc spokesperson.Moreover, the age-adjusted incidence rates are often higher in affluent developed countries than in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. “That makes mobility a strategic area for both companies and a key focus for our new developments and products,” Reguant explains.

Ingredient-product fusion
Meritene Mobilis is rich in calcium and vitamin C, the latter providing 60 percent of the recommended daily intake. The vitamin helps collagen formation for the normal functioning of cartilage, while calcium helps maintain bone strength and mobility. Moreover, the 10 g of high-quality protein present in Meritene Mobilis contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass. The product arrives as a 20 g sachet that can be mixed with warm or cold water, milk or yogurt.

Speaking with consumers throughout Europe, the NHSc spokesperson notes that one of their key unmet needs was around maintaining joint health. “The evolution of the joint health market is recognizing that to support mobility, we need to support muscle and bone as well as joint [health],” they affirm. 

Addressing this, Mobilee is a fully soluble and tasteless ingredient, resulting in no negative effects on the organoleptic properties of Meritene Mobilis. Derived from rooster comb extracts, Mobilee contains a high concentration of hyaluronic acid and other components, including collagen and polysaccharides. 

Meritene Mobilis contains the recommended daily dosage of Mobilee – 80 mg per day. “Research from clinical trials has shown that Mobilee is effective in supporting joint and muscle health at this low dosage,” Reguant affirms. Mobilee’s nutritional characteristics and safety have been tested in six preclinical and five randomized clinical trials over the last 12 years.

As many naturality-oriented consumers are also conscious of animal welfare, Reguant ensures that Bioiberica upcycles the by-products of animals to produce Mobilee. “We don’t slaughter the animals specifically for the purpose of manufacturing Mobilee – instead we ensure that nothing goes to waste from those animals which are being used for food production. Plus, Bioiberica has a vertically integrated supply chain, which not only offers full traceability from start to finish but also ensures we produce only the highest quality ingredients.”

Eyes on the Italian market 
For many years, the Meritene brand has well established itself in the healthy aging market in Italy, says the NHSc spokesperson. An additional advantage, Mobilee is already authorized as an ingredient for nutritional or dietary use by the majority of competent authorities worldwide. 

“This includes the EU, Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Taiwan. As such, we hope to see further product development with Mobilee globally,” says Reguant. Likewise, NHSc has launched Meritene Mobilis in Spain and has plans to continue to roll out this product across other markets with the Meritene brand, the spokesperson states.

Bioiberica views partnerships such as with NHSc as “essential” to inspire innovation and new ideas. “However, we are not just looking for commercial partners. We’re also actively seeking new partners in research and development, licensing, contract services and distribution opportunities. By exploring opportunities for partnership with innovative and like-minded companies, we’ll be in an ideal position to elevate the role of nutrition in mobility and help consumers age well,” Reguant concludes.

By Anni Schleicher