Dispatches from SupplySide West 2013

Chromadex CEO: 'If we need to spend millions of dollars to develop an ingredient pipeline, we will do that'

26-Nov-2013 - Last updated on 19-Oct-2023 at 10:30 GMT

Related tags Ingredients

Buoyed by recent investment from DSM, the CEO of Chromadex says the company is not scared to spend big to develop ingredients that stand up to increased scientific scrutiny and resonate with the market.

Speaking with NutraIngredients-USA at the recent SupplySide West show, Frank Jaksch said the company is primarily interested in launching novel ingredients, non-commodity, science-backed, clinically-backed ingredients, and that’s what it sees resonating in the marketplace.

“Everyone is looking for new things, but they’re also holding ingredients to a higher level of scrutiny than ever before,” he said. “We’re only going to focus on innovative ingredients that previously never existed on the market before, and we think that is where the market is moving.”

While ChromaDex is best known for its extensive catalogue of phytochemical reference standards and botanical materials, the company has also had significant success with ingredients. This started with its pTeroPure pterostilbene ingredient, and more recently with its PurEnergy caffeine-pTeroPure co-crystal, and Niagen nicotinamide riboside, a ‘next-generation B-vitamin. The company’s ingredient portfolio also includes a natural black rice containing cyanidin-3-glucoside branded ProC3G, a gac fruit powder branded nutraGac, and curcumin.

So how does the company select its ingredients? “We have a pretty wide berth of activity. We’re looking for, number one, that it’s showing real success in research. We’re not looking for stuff that’s just mediocre, but will really raise the bar. On top of that, we’re overlaying that with where we see the market going. If the ingredient doesn’t resonate with the market then what’s the point of launching the ingredient?

“I think we’ve been very good about being mindful of that. All of the ingredients we’ve launched so far have been very timely.”

The company recently announced investment from DSM Venturing, and that money will be allocated towards research, said Jaksch.

“We’ll be reinvesting that money into continuing to develop our existing pipeline ingredients, and also to develop new pipeline. We know it costs money. We’re not scared of spending money. If we need to spend a millions of dollars to develop an ingredient pipeline, we will do that.”