Aqua Bio Technology AS (ABT), a Norwegian marine biotechnology company developing innovative active ingredients for the global personal care industry, today announced the global launch of ZONASE X™, a natural anti-aging ingredient composed of marine peptides and unique, non-toxic marine enzymes.  Following successful launch in the highly demanding Scandinavian market, ZONASE X™ is now ready for the global market.

The primary benefit of the unique ZONASE X is gentle, yet effective exfoliation, making it a safe and natural alternative to α-hydroxy acid, harsh fruit enzyme peels, and other potentially caustic exfoliating agents. In addition, the ingredient has shown excellent moisturizing properties, allowing for accelerated skin cell growth.  “The anti-aging category is driving the market, with forecasts of double-digit growth over the next five years,” said Thor Arne Talseth, Executive Chairman.  “Our testing shows that all-natural ZONASE X is as effective as other exfoliants on the market – yet does not have the same abrasive qualities and is far gentler on the skin. It also offers a moisturizing benefit, providing additional value.  These positive attributes have been very well-received during Scandinavian launch, and we believe this unique discovery could quickly become a dominant ingredient within the anti-aging segment.”

ZONASE X was first discovered at the salmon fish hatcheries in Norway, where hatchery staff members had surprisingly smooth hands – despite being immersed in intensely cold water for long periods. Their smooth skin was in fact due to an enzyme in the water secreted by fish larvae inside the egg just prior to hatching. This enzyme helps to break the egg shell during hatching — without harming the highly fragile larvae inside. Further research on this new enzyme indicated that the egg shell had a protein structure akin to corneum proteins of human skin.  Thus, the connection to the smooth hands was made – and a new, natural and gentle exfoliant was discovered.

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UK Fish waste composting company VCU Europa’s technology is being used to treat organic waste on more than 30 different sites in seven countries.

The company’s Vertical Composting Unit (VCU) is an in-vessel, aerobic composting system with a small footprint and incredibly low operating costs, states Steve Morris, VCU’s general manager. Systems are proven in municipal and industrial applications ranging from 2500 to 40,000 tonnes per year, he adds.

The VCU was the first system to be fully accredited by the State Veterinary Service (SVS). There are currently 13 VCU installations in the UK and Ireland, with a further 20 worldwide.

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The two senior diplomats toured the facility in the company of the Marine Institute’s Chief Executive Dr. Peter Heffernan where they received briefings on marine biotechnology, salmon migration, underwater observatories and a number of projects undertaken in collaboration with Queen’s University of Belfast. Information was included on Institute’s role in facilitating research and innovation in support of Ireland’s emerging marine renewable energy sector using ‘SMART’ technology.

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In September 2009, Aker BioMarine said it will borrow up to NOK90m from Aker. The company would initially get a loan of up to NOK50m and the remainder would be made available when it had presented a refinancing plan and got it approved by Aker.

Since then, Aker BioMarine has had a positive development with sales growth and a good start to the fishing season, which, however, has led to a need for an increased working capital.

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MareLife has managed to establish itself as a suitable vehicle for expressing the opinions of the Norwegian bio marine sector as well as defining the major challenges and opportunities to be addressed through R&D and innovation. This has been communicated to the authorities and official recognition has resulted implications for budgeting and the priorities of the grant programs. Among such major issues are: forecasting aquaculture productivity and yields (disease control, biomass measurements etc), mapping and monitoring marine resources and environments to optimize management regimes, sustainable bio marine production systems (feed resources, energy and environmental friendly systems etc), quality assurance, transparency and traceability in the seafood value chain to build consumer confidence, building trust and strong brands and strenthening the blue biotech sector, targeting ingredients and other marine bio active molecules for a wide variety of purposes.

Mare Novum, a collaboration between the region, the University of Gothenburg and the holding company at the University, acts as a gateway between industry and academia and has an extensive network both within Sweden and abroad. The Cluster mediates collaborations between industry and others, e.g. in joint R&D programs, by arranging discussions forums and seminars in relevant topics, and supporting the commercialisation of innovative ideas.

“MARINN” is the working title working title of a Swedish- Norwegian plan aimed at defining and managing a Scandinavian marine biotechnology competence platform, building on the strong research and entrepreneurial spirit within this area. MedCoast Scandinavia and the MareLife counterpart in Sweden, Mare Novum, have been instrumental in these efforts. The MARINN initiative will be linked with the recently Interreg IVA granted project COINCO with the aim to define and develop the Skagerrak/Kattegat region as world leading in selected knowledge based industry fields, where life science targeting the bio marine sector is one of the prioritized areas.

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The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker’s MedImmune unit has been screening Xenome’s library of 2,000 compounds for drug candidates in the area of pain management for over a year and has now obtained exclusive licences for four peptides. Financial details have not been disclosed but but the Brisbane-based firm will be eligible to receive milestone and royalty payments.

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A team of scientists led by Dr Iain Brownlee and Prof Jeff Pearson have found that dietary fibre in one of the world’s largest commercially-used seaweed could reduce the amount of fat absorbed by the body by around 75 per cent.

The Newcastle University team found that Alginate a natural fibre found in sea kelp stops the body from absorbing fat better than most anti-obesity treatments currently available over the counter.

Using an artificial gut, they tested the effectiveness of more than 60 different natural fibres by measuring the amount of fat that was digested and absorbed with each treatment.

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The additional finance will be used towards the further development and commercialisation of Aquapharm’s product portfolio produced from over 7,250 marine micro-organisms. Natural products from this unique source of new biological and chemical diversity are already being exploited commercially with major partners such as Croda Plc and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories in the personal care and pharmaceutical fields respectively. New collaborations in further applications such as nutrition are also in the pipeline.

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Professor Robinson has revealed that university chemists decided to try using a chemically modified form of the polymer chitosan, derived from the body part of squid and crabs.

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Every year, doctors in New Zealand conduct several thousand endoscopic sinus operations to relieve sinusitis. The operation leaves about a third of patients with a type of scarring known as “adhesions”, which can block sinus passages and require further surgery. Professor Robinson has revealed that university chemists decided to try using a chemically modified form of the polymer chitosan, derived from the body part of squid and crabs.

In a statement today, SIRIM President and Chief Executive Ir Yahaya Ahmad said both parties would cooperate in the commercialisation of algae-based products, development of standards and quality certification, and also in human capital development programmes, particularly in research attachments and postgraduate studies.

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