Lonza boosts cognitive health portfolio with Lipogen partnership
The global partnership between will see Lonza acquire the exclusive rights to sell phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylserine-based formulations manufactured by Lipogen in dietary supplements, medical foods, and food and beverages under the Lonza name.
Reto Renggli, director marketing and sales nutrition at Lonza told NutraIngredients that the long-term cooperation would see Lonza provide global sales, marketing and logistics for phosphatidylserine (PS) under its own name, however the ingredient would continue to be manufactured by Lipogen.
“Adding PS to our portfolio of branded ingredients directly represents our commitment to provide a diverse line of nutrition products and an array of formulation-friendly technical qualities,” added Michael DeGennaro, global VP marketing and sales nutrition at Lonza.
Cognitive nutrition
Phosphatidylserine – found in fish, green leafy vegetables, soybeans and rice – regulates metabolic processes such as neuronal signalling. Studies have associated the nutrient to improvements in memory and mood, and specifically linked it to delaying symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer's.
Lipogen PS is said to boost cognitive activity in adults whose cognitive function is slowing down due to age-related decline.
PS is also the only cognitive health ingredient in the US which received a qualified health claim from the FDA – stating that “Consumption of phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly” and “Consumption of phosphatidylserine may reduce the risk of dementia in the elderly”. – whilst Lipogen PS has obtained FDA affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status.
Renggli said that the partnership would add to Lonza’s existing DHA ingredients in the cognitive functioning market – noting that with an aging global population, there are big opportunities for growth in the area of mental health and cognitive functioning.
“PS represents our focus of bringing solutions that meet the needs for cognitive support to our customers,” added DeGennaro.
Product launch
Renggli confirmed that PS under the Lonza name would be launched in the US in the fourth quarter of 2011, whilst a further global roll out would be seen in 2012.
