Rhenovia Signs Dairy R&D Contract with Sodiaal-Candia

Strategic contract will enable Rhenovia to apply its pharmaceutical research know-how to develop activities in the health food and supplements market.

4/27/2011 --- Rhenovia Pharma SAS, a biotechnology company specialized in the development and optimization of treatments for diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems, announces the signing of a research-and-development contract with Sodiaal-Candia, a world leader in dairy products. The contract is aimed at identifying new avenues of research for better understanding the beneficial effects on human health of the milk components and its derivatives. The research will focus in particular on studying their nutritional and therapeutic value. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This contract will enable Rhenovia to expand the application of its technology from medical products to food markets, and Sodiaal to better understand the effects of food on human health, and especially on people’s predisposition to neurodegenerative diseases, for the best benefit of consumers. Analyzing the links between nutrition and health is very difficult at the experimental and conceptual level. The methods of pharmaceutical research are required to understand the mechanisms of action of bioactive nutritional components. This is the core activity of Rhenovia, which will apply its know-how to identify the potential molecular or physiological targets of milk and its components. Results of these studies will improve our understanding of the relationships between food, health and predisposition to degenerative diseases.

The research project will draw on Rhenovia’s technical expertise, especially its biosimulation platform for pathologies of the central and peripheral nervous systems, for studying the influence of food on human health, and importantly on the development of neurodegenerative diseases and age-related pathologies. Poor eating habits are a major risk factor that can facilitate the development of diseases, especially cardiovascular pathologies, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. A healthy, balanced and rationally adapted diet might not only delay the emergence of these diseases and slow their progression, but also correct or enhance the efficacy of medicinal treatments and/or reduce their side-effects.

“We are delighted with the confidence that Sodiaal-Candia is showing in Rhenovia,” said Dr. Serge Bischoff, the Chairman and CEO of Rhenovia Pharma. “The signing of this first agreement will enable Rhenovia to apply its proprietary technological platforms and the services it provides to a new area, that of food and nutrition. It makes complete sense for Rhenovia to invest in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, and to continue to find solutions for the nutritional deficiencies that are often associated with them. We are building on our involvement in the identification of new treatments for these same diseases to develop new applications for our technological platforms which will enable Rhenovia to move into new markets and speed up the company’s growth and value creation.”

“Sodiaal-Candia, a major player in dairy industry R&D, is a cooperative committed to promoting a healthy diet and the project with Rhenovia will enable us to become more closely involved in the development of modern nutrition and identify dietary strategies that improve health and ensure well-being while preventing certain diseases,” said Dr. Olivier Cousin, the Research-and-Development Director of Sodiaal-Candia. “We selected Rhenovia for its remarkable expertise in pharmacology, toxicology and neurosciences. The study we are conducting with Rhenovia will enable us to develop products that are designed to foster and improve the health of our customers.”