DSM invests in former patent suit opponent ZeaVision
“We are pleased to welcome DSM as a strategic investor which offers unique potential to strengthen ZeaVision's leadership position in the ocular nutrition market,” said Chris Barber, president of Chesterfield, MO-based ZeaVision.
"This investment is at the core of our strategy to support emerging companies in our ecosystem and create new business opportunities,” said Greg McParland, senior investment manager at DSM Venturing.
ZeaVision joins a stable of other companies in which DSM Venturing has made strategic investments. These companies include such well known names in the dietary supplement business as ChromaDex Corp. and Ganeden Biotech Inc.
ZeaVision and DSM have had an interesting history. In 2004 the companies settled a patent dispute that orignated in 2003 when ZeaVision sued Roche Vitamins (later acquired by DSM) for violation of its patents. In the settlement DSM received limited, non-exclusive rights to ZeaVision’s patents. ZeaVision sources its natural zeaxanthin from Kalsec, which extracts the ingredient from paprika. DSM has offered a synthetic form of zeaxanthin branded as Optisharp. Earlier this year DSM entered into an agreement with Kemin, to market a natural version of zeaxanthin from marigolds under the Optisharp name.
