Weekly Roundup: Lonza sells Quakertown site, GOED appoints new exec

06 May 2022 --- This week in nutrition news, Lonza has agreed to sell its US-based Quakertown site to industry investors for an undisclosed amount. The Global Organization for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega 3s (GOED) hired a new global business development director. Meanwhile, research has found that a diet high in protein, zinc and niacin and low in saturated fat makes blood vessels more flexible.

In brief: Business news
Lonza agreed to sell its US-based Quakertown site to a group of industry veterans and investors. The Quakertown site specializes in particle size reduction capabilities and it will be renamed Microsize as an independent company. According to Lonza, the transaction will be completed by summer. The financial details of this transaction were not disclosed. The Quakertown site employs about 45 people and specializes in particle size reduction and control services for drug substances and excipients. The site comprises two buildings and accompanying infrastructure, comprising nine current good manufacturing practice suites, two developmental suites and phase-appropriate particle size reduction equipment from early development to commercial supply. An investing group managed by Derek Hennecke and TJ Higley will support it.

The Select Snooze Bites are available in three flavors: Blackberry, Watermelon, and Mango.In brief: Announcements and accreditation
GOED named Ashley Becnel as its global business development director. Becnel will oversee the business development strategy to help grow the global organization and manage member engagement for its approximately 160 member companies. Becnel will be accompanying the GOED team at Vitafoods Europe 2022 next week. Becnel previously worked with FoodMinds, a nutrition communication agency, on client acquisition and retention and stakeholder and partnership engagement. She also oversaw integrated business and communication strategies for her clients, including policy, science, thought leadership, and media. During the Obama administration (2008-2016), Becnel also worked for the White House as part of the Advance team, coordinating foreign visit logistics.

In brief: Launches and releases
Cannabis consumer products provider, Curaleaf expanded its Select’s CBD line with the launch of Select CBD Bites, available in US stores and online. The latest offering has added broad-spectrum hemp that may provide targeted wellness benefits without the psychoactive effects of THC. The Select CBD Bites are made with all-natural ingredients and cannabinoids to focus on three key areas: sleep, restoration, and recovery. Each “bite” is said to contain 25 mg of cannabinoids sourced from hemp farmed in the US that has been tested for purity and consistency by a third-party lab. The CBD Bites include Select Snooze Bites in blackberry flavor with a 1:1 ratio of CBD and cannabinol (CBN), a cannabinoid known for its relaxing and soothing qualities. Secondly, the Select Recover Bites in watermelon flavor have a 1:1 ratio of CBD and cannabigerol (CBG), a cannabinoid known for its restorative qualities. Lastly, the Select Chill Bites in mango flavor are infused with CBD only.

Wellness company Rebalance Health released Rebalance – a system of Superceuticals that may modulate cortisol levels to improve sleep and recovery while enhancing the body’s production of performance and wellness hormones for men and women. The Rebalance System comprises ingredients that include ashwagandha, maca, beetroot powder and vitamin B6. The key delivery mechanism for these natural ingredients is the proprietary Directline, a lozenge-based delivery system that enables improved bioavailability of Rebalance Superceuticals. The Energize lozenge is taken in the morning, followed by a Relax lozenge 12 hours later. These two supplements create the “ideal” cortisol balance for consumers to operate at their best throughout the day, moderating higher cortisol levels to jumpstart the day and lower levels in the evening to wind down. The Dream Catcher is taken 30 minutes before sleeping, completing the daily system for sleep and recovery.

The Rebalance system modulates daily cortisol levels, which may improve sleep and recovery.Health supplement producer Nativus Health released its first product – the Nativus Health Broad Spectrum Probiotic supplement. Nativus Health’s Broad Spectrum Probiotic was created with strain diversity in mind, which is why it contains 18 probiotic strains, according to the company. Some studies have linked probiotics to a stronger immune system, better heart health, improved gut health, and even better mental health. The company emphasizes that each probiotic strain has its own set of health benefits, so Nativus Health included many strains in its product.

Wellness brand HUM Nutrition unveiled its latest offering, Womb Service. The prenatal multivitamin was formulated with “easily absorbable” essential nutrients to support pre- to post-pregnancy and fetal development needs. Womb Service’s two-step formula includes a prenatal multivitamin capsule and a vegan DHA soft gel, providing 23 nutrients, including choline and folate, at OB-GYN-recommended levels. The company adds that the ingredients support optimal brain health, eye health, bone health, and baby development. The choline ingredient supports the baby’s brain and spinal cord development and the methylated folate ingredient supports neural tube development and DNA synthesis. The form of folate used is absorbable for everyone and at a dose of 800 mcg, recommended by prenatal nutrition experts.

The Paleo Diet introduced a new food certification program based on the science of Dr. Loren Cordain, who founded the modern Paleolithic nutrition movement. This food certification program aims to promote science-based healthy nutrition and make better nutrition accessible to health-conscious consumers. According to the Paleo Diet’s founders, highly processed meals, GMO foods, grains, legumes, and dairy products are unhealthy because they were not part of the diet humans developed over millions of years. This certification move comes at a time when the size of the total market for Paleo foods is now over US$200 billion annually and rising. The Paleo Diet brand is now available for strategic brand licensing through its Valen Group licensing partner.

In brief: Research and studies
Research from Denmark-based Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen has found that vegan diets help adults who are overweight or have Type 2 diabetes lose weight and control their blood sugar levels. The study included an analysis of 11 randomized trials, revealing that following a vegan diet for at least 12 weeks can help people with overweight or type 2 diabetes lose weight and improve glucose control. However, vegan diets rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and seeds did not affect blood pressure or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) compared to other diets. During the research, vegan diets were compared with either passive control groups (participants consuming a regular diet with no dietary changes) or active control groups (participants following other nutritional interventions such as Mediterranean diets, different diabetes diets, or portion-controlled diets). Compared with control diets, the analysis found that vegan diets significantly reduced body weight (effect average minus 4.1 kg) and body mass index (minus 1.38 kg/m2).

Nativus Health’s Broad Spectrum Probiotic contains over 18 probiotic strains.A study presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Maastricht, the Netherlands, between 4 - 7 May has linked vital nutrients, including protein, zinc and niacin, to improvements in heart health. The study involved 72 metabolic syndrome and obesity participants enrolled in a one-year intensive, multidisciplinary weight loss program. Personalized food and exercise programs and regular consultations with a physician and nutritionist were all part of the research. Participants with a BMI of 34.28 kg/m2 were asked to complete a full food questionnaire a week before beginning their diet and activity routines and a year later. Body mass index had dropped by 9.4% and three measures of blood vessel flexibility had improved. Flow mediated dilation had improved by 47% on average, pulse wave velocity had improved by 13% and intima-media thickness had improved by 1%.

Also presented at the ECO in the Netherlands are findings from a University of Birmingham, UK, study that adolescents’ diet quality is neither healthy nor sustainable as analysis of secondary school students in the West Midlands region of the UK are not consuming a healthy diet. The research compared the secondary school pupils’ diets with the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet. The comparison showed that 70% of adolescents are not eating the recommended amount of fruit, and 90% are not eating enough vegetables. Additionally, almost three-quarters (73%) of pupils consumed more than the daily maximum recommended 31 g (about seven teaspoons) of free sugar. Nearly a third (31%) ate more than the maximum recommended 58 g of chicken and processed poultry (equivalent to four McDonald’s chicken nuggets) and potatoes (100 g).

Research and production of high purity fucoidan extracts company Marinova released two research projects that involve seaweed extracts. The first research project will focus on eosinophilic oesophagitis, a chronic inflammatory illness of the respiratory tract (EoE). Despite the increasing global prevalence of EoE, the disease’s diagnosis, treatment, and management remain difficult. Marinova’s human clinical research will look into the efficacy of high purity fucoidans in treating EoE symptoms. The second research project will utilize Marinova’s existing dossier of scientific evidence on fucoidans and healthy aging. The study will look into various aging processes, both natural and accelerated. The project will also include research into the possible protective effects of high purity fucoidans when used with conventional chemotherapeutics. The Australian Government will support the research projects through the Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre. Marinova received a grant of AUD $270 million (US$191.4 million) for the decade-long R&D program.

By Nicole Kerr