Weekly Roundup: Lesaffre acquires majority holding in Biohymn Biotechnology, Pure Orange launches omega 3 supplement

05 Jun 2020 --- In nutrition news this week, Lesaffre concluded the majority shareholding of Chinese yeast player Biohymn Biotechnology. Meanwhile, Norwegian Pure Orange claims to have developed the “purest omega 3 supplement available.” In the same week, Orgain introduced a new line of organic, plant-based powders crafted from food-based anti-inflammatory ingredients, while Lonza appointed Pierre-Alain Ruffieux as CEO.

In brief: Business news
Lesaffre, a key player in the field of yeasts and fermentation, has taken a majority shareholding in Biohymn Biotechnology, which is a Chinese company specializing in the production of yeast and yeast extracts. The move is in line with Lesaffre’s goal of strengthening its presence on the Chinese market and ensuring greater proximity to its clients. Biohymn Biotechnology produces yeast and yeast extracts, mainly for the Chinese market. The company was created in 2012 and is based in the Food Industrial park of Linxi County, Chifeng City, in Northern China.

Eevia Health Oy, a Finnish producer of health ingredients made from organically-certified plant extracts, has upgraded its green-chemistry manufacturing plant in Finland to meet strong demand from customers. During the first four months of 2020, Eevia Health invested in new equipment, machines and technology to improve functionality, productivity and throughput of the special-purpose ingredient factory. The equipment-upgrade amounts to an investment of approximately €1 million (US$1.1 million) and is 100 percent equity-financed by Eevia Health owners. It includes significant improvement in functionality, directed at maintaining high quality in the extraction process of complex compounds from natural plant material.

Lesaffre has taken a majority shareholding in Biohymn Biotechnology Givaudan has completed the acquisition of the cosmetics business of Indena. The move is part of Givaudan’s long-term strategy to expand the capabilities of its Active Beauty business. Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Indena is dedicated to the identification, development and production of active ingredients derived from plants, for use in the pharmaceutical, health food and personal care industries.

In brief: Launches and releases
Norway-based Pure Orange is launching what it claims to be “probably the purest omega 3 supplement available.” It is a product made from sustainable Norwegian salmon oil, 100 percent pure and with no additives. To be able to guarantee its origin and purity promise to end-users, Pure Orange has partnered with ORIVO, the only company in the world that has the technology to scientifically prove the origin and species of omega 3 oils in finished product form, Pure Orange says.

Nutrition products player Orgain has introduced its new line of organic, plant-based powders crafted from food-based anti-inflammatory ingredients, and high in vitamin C and adaptogens. The range, called Orgain Organic Sport Line, is touted as able to support optimal performance and recovery. Products in the line include Orgain Organic Sport Protein Powder, Orgain Organic Sport Energy Powder, and Orgain Organic Sport Recovery Powder. The supplements are marketed as delivering a clean energy boost to aid workout performance and recovery.

In brief: Awards and certifications
Applied Food Sciences (AFS) has taken another great step in furthering the safety and validation of its Amatea organic guayusa extract by presenting its Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) dossier to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review. Amatea is a branded guayusa extract that uses a patented process to extract caffeine and antioxidants naturally occurring in guayusa leaves for premium, organic energy. The industry generally regards the FDA’s merited “no further comment” response as the “best response from the FDA” and an acknowledgment of the reliable data supporting the safety of the ingredient. The response indicates that the FDA has reviewed AFS’s safety data and does not disagree with the conclusion that Amatea is safe for the intended use in food and beverage applications set out in the dossier, the company explains. 

Orgain has introduced its new line of organic, plant-based powders crafted from food-based anti-inflammatory ingredients.Socati Corp has completed the evaluation process and received official US Department of Agriculture Organic (USDA) certification for its cannabidiol (CBD) ingredient line up which can be used in USDA Organic finished products. Notably, Socati is the only commercial scale producer of USDA Organic certified cannabinoid ingredients with third-party verified non-detectable levels of THC. Given the broad trend towards organic and clean label products, Socati maintains that the company and its partners are now uniquely positioned for the expected widespread shift to premium USDA Organic certified CBD products.

PLT Health Solutions has announced that its sports nutrition ingredient Zynamite PX is now third-party Certified For Sports. PLT’s manufacturing partner, Nektium Pharma, has established an on-going program with the Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG) to test and certify materials sold as Sports Grade. The testing program covers 483 drugs in total, including 272 drugs that are banned by a broad range of sports organizations. Launched in February of this year, Zynamite PX is a patent-pending synergistic combination of a Mangifera indica extract and Sophora japonica extract (standardized to 50 percent quercetin) that offers a unique set of benefits in active/sports nutrition products. The subject of multiple clinical trials, Zynamite PX has been shown to improve peak power output in one hour after a single dose. It was also shown to reduce lactate build-up and speed recovery from long, intense workouts – places where athletes need help the most.

Chemi Nutra has announced that its patented, clinically validated, full FDA GRAS, AlphaSize A-GPC functional ingredient now meets the requirements contained in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph. This is as published in The Second Supplement to USP 42-NF 37, which became official on December 1, last year. The USP is a scientific nonprofit organization that sets standards for the identity, strength, quality and purity of medicines, food ingredients and dietary supplements and ingredients manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide. USP publishes the USP-NF, which is a book of public pharmacopeial standards, published yearly, and monographs for dietary supplements and ingredients are in a separate section of the USP.

In brief: Miscellaneous
In collaboration with Haukeland University Hospital in Norway, Arctic Nutrition has conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study investigating the effects of herring roe oil on psoriasis. The clinical results from the study are now published in Acta Dermato-Venereologica. The results showed that the group of psoriasis patients who received herring roe oil achieved a significantly larger improvement in their psoriasis than the group who received placebo, as measured by change in PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index). 

The Board of Lonza has announced that Pierre-Alain Ruffieux has been appointed CEO, effective November 1, 2020. Pierre-Alain is currently Head of Global Pharma Technical Operations at Roche where he and his team is responsible for all aspects of pharmaceutical commercial manufacturing and supply chain operations, technical, quality assurance and regulatory. Prior to that he held roles of increasing seniority at Novartis and has over 20 years of experience in biopharmaceuticals.

By Kristiana Lalou