Archive for December, 2009
Dec
16 2009

Aquapharm adds to team to facilitate commercialization of marine biotech products

Aquapharm has made two major appointments to help it move closer to commercializing its marine biotech assets.

Jon Williams joins Aquapharm as business development director with a remit to explore non-pharmaceutical markets for its products in areas such as personal care, food, nutrition and industrial chemistry.

Also signing up at the Oban-based firm is Dr Lloyd Payne who becomes research director.

Payne is being charged with delivering the completion of the world’s largest marine-derived compound library which the company hopes to unveil to the market next year.

Andrew Spragg, chief executive and founder of Aquapharm, said: “Because we have this growing portfolio, we need people with specific sector experience.

“Jon’s considerable experience in the commercialisation of natural products will be invaluable.This appointment will catalyse our efforts to establish sustainable, diversified sources of revenue and act to support the longer-term development of novel pharmaceutical candidates.

More info

From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: , • No Comments
Dec
15 2009

Roe of fish is best natural source of omega-3

The roe of hake, lumpsucker and salmon is the best dietary source of Omega 3, according to a study carried out by researchers at the University of Almería (UAL). The scientists analysed the eggs, or roe, of 15 marine animals, and found all of these contained high levels of these fatty acids, which are essential to the human body.

Until now there had been no precise understanding of the nutritional potential of the roe of marine animals, but a team of researchers from the UAL has now shown that this is one of the best natural sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential for ensuring the correct development of a wide variety of metabolic functions in the human body.

The results, published in the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, show that Omega 3 fatty acids are present in all fish roe, but especially in the eggs of Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda), mackerel (Scomber scombrus), squid (Loligo vulgaris), cuttlefish (Sepia sp.), lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus), hake (Merluccius merluccius) and salmon (Salmo salar).

More info

From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: , , • No Comments
Dec
15 2009

Omega-3 entered into Phase 3 clinical programs in Japan

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Osaka, Japan, “Takeda”) and Pronova BioPharma ASA (OSE: PRON.OL) (Lysaker, Norway, “Pronova”) today announced that the advancement of TAK-085 (Compendial name: omega-3 acid ethyl esters 90 (Ph. Eur.)) for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia into phase 3 clinical programs in Japan.

Takeda and Pronova entered into a license and supply agreement and Pronova granted Takeda an exclusive development, marketing and distribution right in Japan. TAK-085 is a highly concentrated preparation of the ethyl esters of omega-3 fatty acids which are predominantly a combination of ethyl esters of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

TAK-085 has already been approved and is commercially available in the U.S. (marketed as LovazaTM), for the treatment of the adult patients with high triglyceride levels -and major European countries including Italy, France, Germany, Spain and U.K., for the treatment of adjuvant treatment in secondary prevention after myocardial infarction, in addition to other standard therapy (e.g. statins, antiplatelet drugs, betablockers, ACE inhibitors) and adult patients with high triglyceride levels.

More info

From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: , • No Comments
Dec
15 2009

Aker BioMarine awarded public grant for research on krill oil

Aker BioMarine has been awarded a three-year NOK 8 million research grant from the Research Council of Norway’s Food Programme. The biotechnology company will use the funds to continue its ambitious documentation program on Superba™ Krill products. Aker BioMarine was one of five receivers out of an application pool of 37 companies.

The research grant allows us to further intensify our ambitious pre-clinical and clinical research on Superba™ Krill, says Dr. Hogne Vik, Aker BioMarine’s EVP of Documentation. We have been extremely pleased with the results we have seen in our research so far, and this grant contributes to even better documentation for Superba™ Krill – one of very few dietary supplements that is supported by product-specific scientific documentation.

More info

From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: , • No Comments
Dec
02 2009

Marine proteins shown to be effective to support weight gain in poultry

The Bluewave Marine Ingredient company in Peru reports that they have had some successful trials using their PerfectDigestTM marine peptide to improve feed conversion and weight gain in poultry. The study, conducted at the  Bangkok Animal Research Center (BARC), showed in an 800 bird matrix that their product provided nearly a 2% FCR improvement and a 3.3% growth improvement in poultry over the initial 10 day trial.

Blue Waves products range in price starting at $1.0/kg for a liquid protein concentrate, and up to $4.5/kg for a protein isolate powder, ex-works.

More info


From Issue 8 • Categories: Tags: , , • No Comments