NZMP scores European patent for infant cognition benefits in MFGM products

21 Jul 2020 --- NZMP has gained a European patent for SureStart MFGM Lipid 100 and MFGM Lipid 70. Customers using the lipid ingredients can now position their infant formula products as “beneficial for cognitive development.” The patent contains claims for maternal and pediatric formulations that contain complex lipids, including gangliosides for increasing cognitive development. Likewise, it provides “that extra reassurance” that end-consumers are purchasing a “high-quality, innovative product with benefits that are backed by robust science,” details the company.

“Cognitive development is a key benefit that parents around the world are looking for when choosing infant formula and ingredients such as DHA have had recognition as being important to support brain development for over 20 years. However as DHA is now widely used in infant formula, brand owners are looking for ingredients that allow them to differentiate in the market. MFGM ingredients are gaining traction as the new offering in cognitive benefits,” NZMP Marketing and Business Development Manager, Angela Rowan, tells NutritionInsight.

“We pursued our patent in the main pediatric nutrition markets. Europe is an important pediatric nutrition market for NZMP and we also manufacture MFGM ingredients in Europe,” she adds. Meanwhile, a US patent is pending for this NZMP invention.

Europe is an important paediatric nutrition market for NZMP.Rowan identifies Asian markets as being “more innovative and create opportunities for new formulations, ingredients and benefits.” However with a global market and manufacturers based all over the world supplying a range of regions for paediatric nutrition solutions, demand is fairly similar, she highlights.

The European patent (EP 2211629) gives protection until October 2028. It designates all Member States of the EU, including Scandinavian countries, and is undergoing validation in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK.

The latest patent joins a family of patents that support the use of MFGM complex lipid ingredients, including SureStart MFGM Lipids in maternal and pediatric formulations. These have also been granted in China, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Mexico and Russia. 

The rise of MFGM
NZMP’s lipid ingredient duo is a tri-layer of phospholipids, glycolipids, cholesterol and membrane proteins surrounding the triglyceride droplets in all mammalian kinds of milk. Traditionally, MFGM was isolated by churning chilled cream into butter; the resulting aqueous phase, named buttermilk, contains broken MFGM fragments.

“There is increasing consumer awareness of the role of MFGM complex lipids such as phospholipids and gangliosides to support brain and cognitive development in infants and young children. The patent provides an added level of credibility for consumer brands,” says Angela Rowan, NZMP Marketing and Business Development Manager for Paediatric Nutrition. 

DHA has had recognition as being important to support brain development for over 20 years.Infant nutrition is critically important in the first 1,000 days of life. The market of formula products that not only aim to fill babies’ bellies but add extra health benefits is growing and in demand. 

MFGMs are also increasingly showing how beneficial they are for gut and immune health. Additionally, both SureStart MFGM Lipid 70 and Lipid 100 are sources of MFGM complex lipid components that have been shown to protect against rotavirus infection. 

Industry is keen to tap into this rising trend. FrieslandCampina Ingredients recently spoke with NutritionInsight on its forthcoming Vivinal MFGM launch that contains bioactives for infant formula. Last November, Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI) released two maternal supplementation prototypes with MFGM geared toward supporting children’s cognitive development during pregnancy and lactation under the Smart Mama concept.

“Without a license to our patent, an infant formula player that adds a competitors MFGM ingredient to obtain the levels of gangliosides in our patents claims would not be able to talk about cognition benefits without the risk of infringing of our patent,” Rowan concludes.

By Anni Schleicher