Archive for October, 2009
Oct
26 2009

Scottish marine biotech company GlycoMar acquires seafood testing business

GlycoMar Limited, a Scottish marine biotechnology company, has recently secured the assets of Integrin Advanced Bioystems Ltd. These have been acquired as a going concern and will be immediately translocated to GlycoMar’s premises at the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology. The services provided by Integrin Advanced Biosystems, will now be provided under the trading name VeroMara, with its own website (www.veromara.com) to be launched soon.

The services provided by VeroMara include:

  • Marine biotoxin testing
  • Microbiology testing
  • Molecular diagnostics
  • Contract research services

More info

From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: No Comments
Oct
16 2009

Norway’s StatoilHydro funds algae project in US

Norwegian energy company StatoilHydro has invested $3 million  in the Chesapeake Algae Project (ChAP) in Virginia.

The College of William and Mary and its Virginia Institute of Marine Science have formed the collaborative research initiative to investigate a promising new technology to produce biofuel from the algae growing naturally in rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

The enterprise is an integrated research approach to algae-based energy production and environmental remediation. Other key partners are the Williamsburg energy advisory firm Blackrock Energy, the University of Maryland, the Smithsonian Institution, the University of Arkansas and HydroMentia, a Florida company that works with water-treatment technologies.

More info

From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: , No Comments
Oct
16 2009

Swedish Personal Care R&D Company Aggressively Expanding Marine Based Patent Portfolio

As the market and interest for all natural marine based bioactives continiue to grow, the Swedish personal care research and development company Zona Nordic AB is looking to build on this momentum and take the position as a technology leader in the market place.

The company is working within marine biotechnology, using patented marine enzymes, proteins and biopolymers in their two skin care brands, Z Skin Repair and Kilda Skindiver.

The company has an aggressive patent strategy to develop multiple use patents based on the application of biomolecules present in the hatching liquid from salmon eggs. The active principles in the liquid are not only restricted to proteases, but also include lectins, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, protein- and carbohydrate biopolymers and lipids. During the last year, Zona Nordic AB has tested two new formulations based on the above mentioned technology.

More info

From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: , 1 Comment
Oct
13 2009

“Super-Food” Seaweed-based Flavoring Ingredients in Development by Cork Company

A range of natural flavoursome food products that rely neither on added salt or monosodium glutamate may soon be available thanks to a Cork-based company exploring the food potential of a major Irish natural resource – seaweed.

The company, CyberColloids of Carrigaline, Co. Cork is currently researching a suite of products that include mildly processed Irish seaweeds as flavoursome ingredients.  The research, which was led by Dr Sarah Hotchkiss of CyberColloids, with assistance from the marine research programme of the National Development Plan as part of the Sea Change Strategy developed and administered by the Marine Institute, included an assessment of market needs, the food processing methods currently available and the availability of Irish seaweeds as a commercial resource.

As a result of this work, a range of concept products have been identified, developed and screened by CyberColloids for commercial potential. Three condiment products are currently being assessed by an Irish food company with a view to commercialisation later this year.

More info

From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: No Comments
Oct
13 2009

Florida-based Valensa International has signed licensing agreements for its astaxanthin

Valensa’s deal comes at the same time it has joined with krill omega-3 specialist, Neptune Technologies and Bioressources to develop astaxanthin-omega-3 combinations.

Valensa says its patent-protected process (University of Illinois; US 5,527,533) can be used by New York-based FutureBiotics; North Dakota-based Swanson Health Products and Arizona-based Life Extension Vitamins in eye health supplements.

The patent is relevant for light-induced retinal damage, age-related macular degeneration, photoreceptor cell retinal damage and damage to neurons of inner retinal layers and produces an ingredient with a four-year shelf life, Valensa said.

More info

From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: No Comments