08 2010
Martek Prepares to Launch Consumer Products
Martek Biosciences says a strong financial performance will allow the firm to launch a number of consumer branded products next year, while it continues to explore other complementary business opportunities.
The US microalgae ingredient company recently reported an increase of over 50 percent in revenues for the quarter ended July 31, 2010, driven partly by the acquisition of a consumer health products firm, but also by the growth of its nutritional ingredients.
03 2010
New Aker JV to acquire EPAX in €70 million deal
Newly formed Trygg Pharma – a joint venture between krill player Aker BioMarine and New York-based private investment firm Lindsay Goldberg – has agreed to pay NOK 561 million (€71.2 million) for the Epax shares. Trygg will also assume the net interest bearing debt of Epax, which was NOK 314 million (€39.8 million) as of 31 December 2009.
The transaction – subject to the customary closing conditions – is expected to close in the final quarter of 2010, said the companies.
01 2010
US DOE to Host Series of Biomass Program Webinars: Algae Webinar Sept. 8
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Biomass Program is hosting a Webinar on Wednesday, September 8, 2010, from 2:00–4:30 p.m. EDT entitled “The Promise and Challenge of Algae as a Renewable Source of Biofuels.” This Web conference marks the first in the Biomass Program’s Webinar series, which will cover many of the program’s activities and feature “Hot Topics” discussions relevant to the development of renewable fuels, power, and products from biomass resources.
This Webinar will focus on the program’s approach to algal biofuels research and development and will include presentations from four of its recently funded consortia, comprised of more than 65 partners across the United States. This session will also discuss highlights from the National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap, which was released by DOE in June 2010.
The Biomass Program welcomes interested stakeholders from industry, academia, research institutions, government, non-profits, other organizations, and the general public. Presenters include Joanne Morello of DOE’s Biomass Program and representatives from the National Alliance For Advanced Biofuels and Bio-Products (NAABB), the Center for Algae Biotechnology Commercialization (CAB-Comm), the Sustainable Algal Biofuels Consortium (SABC), and Cellana, LLC.
17 2010
Chitosan-based, nanoparticle gene-silencing system blocks production of protein involved in formation of ovarian cancer cell tumor
A protein associated with cancer progression when abundant inside of tumors also unexpectedly regulates the creation of new blood vessels that feed the tumor outside, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports in the August edition of Cancer Cell.
Using a chitosan-based, nanoparticle gene-silencing system to block production of the protein, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center inhibited formation of new blood vessel (angiogenesis) to the tumor and caused a steep reduction in tumor burden in a mouse model of ovarian cancer.
Study senior author Anil Sood, M.D., professor in UT MD Anderson’s departments of Gynecologic Oncology and Cancer Biology and co-author Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, M.D., professor in UT MD Anderson’s Department of Experimental Therapeutics, have developed delivery systems that package siRNA with a fatty ball called a liposome to silence specific genes in cancer cells.
“Those systems are quite effective for delivery to tumors and tumor cells but not as effective for delivery to tumor vasculature,” Sood said. They jointly developed a new delivery system that packages siRNA into chitosan nanoparticles. Chitosan is derived from a chitin, a structural component in the shells of crustaceans.
Chitosan nanoparticles carry a slight positive electrical charge, making them attractive to the mostly negatively charged endothelial cells. The nanoparticles penetrate the tumor by way of its vasculature, so the new system hits both targets.
The nanoparticles accumulate in the cancer cell and vasculature passively as they circulate in the blood stream. Chitosan nanoparticles are so small that they can flow through tiny holes in the tumor vasculature. They also accumulate in other organs, so the researchers are working to add a targeting molecule that will limit nanoparticle uptake to tumors and their vasculature.
17 2010
Daily supplements of astaxanthin may improve HDL ‘good’ cholesterol levels, suggests new data from a human trial
Doses up to 18 milligrams per day for 12 weeks improved blood levels of HDL cholesterol, as well as adiponectin concentrations, a protein hormone linked to various metabolic processes, according to findings published in Atherosclerosis.
Researchers from Jikei University Kashiwa Hospital in Japan and Fuji Chemical Industry used Fuji’s commercially available AstaReal astaxanthin ingredient, and the trial involved 61 non-obese people with mildly elevated triglyceride levels.
According to the researchers, the potential benefits of astaxanthin with regards to HDL cholesterol and triglycerides have been demonstrated previously in animal studies, but supporting data from humans have been lacking.
17 2010
BioCentric Energy Holdings announced multi-million dollar contract with Biocen Natural Products Development
A multi-million dollar contract was signed between Daniel Kennedy, CEO and President of Biocen Natural Development Group (Pink Sheets:BNPD), a Nevada health drink company, and BEHL President, Monique Berry. The Nevada company, BNPD, is a public company consisting of a board of directors, a sales and marketing team and distribution outlets.
BNPD, formerly Bionic Products, Inc., is currently undergoing a formal name change to Biocen Natural Products Development, Inc. All corporate information is currently being updated and the official name change will be announced when approval has been received from the regulatory authorities.
The details of the contract between BNPD and BEHL are as followed, states Ms. Berry, “The first part of the contract is a $600,000 licensing and royalty agreement for representation of BEHL and BEHL clients for specific algaes produced. BNPD has agreed to pay BioCentric Energy in 8 equal installments commencing on September 14, 2010. As the market demand fluctuates for the end products, the licensing fee may be amended annually.”
In addition to the licensing agreement, both companies have agreed upon and executed a sole and exclusive sales and marketing contract in which BNPD will purchase from BioCentric Energy and its clients 3 specific algae strains to be used in BNPD’s health and nutracuetical products.
The first algae strain, Haemaotoccocus, has a current market value of $341 per kilogram. Conservatively, BEHL will produce 15,600 pounds of Haemaotoccocus over the next 12 months for BNPD. The next strain grown by BEHL and/or clients sold to BNPD will be the very popular, robust and fast growing Chlorella.
The current market value for Chlorella is $44 per kilogram. BioCentric Energy will deliver to BNPD, 12,000 pounds of Chlorella over the next 12 months. Finally, the highly popular algae known for its antioxidant and anticancer properties, Spirulina, will also be produced and delivered to BNPD. The current market value for Spirulina is $20 per kilogram. BioCentric Energy plans to produce and deliver approximately 22,500 pounds of Spirulina over the next 12 months.
16 2010
Portland, Maine’s Ocean Approved Seaweed Products begins further expansion
Like so many entrepreneurial ventures with food products, Ocean Approved frozen seaweed started with a pot simmering on a kitchen stove. Now, with a $95,000 NOAA Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Grant and an experimental lease to raise seaweed near Little Chebeague Island, the first lease of its kind in the U.S., the company, which has grown steadily since its inception, is poised to move towards large-scale commercial production of seaweed.
In the first year of business, Tolleff Olson, the company’s founder, did all the work, gathering, processing and marketing. Two years ago, he was joined by business partner Paul Dobbins, who runs the office. According to Dobbins, Olsen is “the visionary” and does everything else. They now have 10 part-time employees.
During the past year, sales have more than doubled. At first, Olsen sold the seaweed products to four Portland stores; that has increased to 17 Whole Foods Markets and 72 specialty and natural foods stores, including two venues in Los Angeles. In June, as a result of contacts made while serving their seaweed at the NOAA Fish Fry for NOAA employees and guests in Washington, D.C., Ocean Approved gained orders from a chain of natural food stores in the D.C. area.
16 2010
Seaweed Company in Stornoway has won the Crown Estates Marine Business Award for seaweed venture, creating nearly 40 jobs in the Isle of Lewis in five years
The Hebridean Seaweed Company in Stornoway has won the Crown Estates Marine Business Award for a venture that has created nearly 40 jobs in the Isle of Lewis in just five years. The company has agreements in place with the Crown Estate, which owns 70% of Britain’s coastline, and local private estates to exclusively harvest seaweed throughout the Western Isles.
It also works closely with Scottish Natural Heritage to ensure the seaweed harvesting is sustainable and environmentally friendly.The company employs eight people in its factory, although a further 36 jobs have been created in harvesting and hauling the crop. The end product is utilised in a variety of ways ranging from soil enhancement to shampoos, soaps, and body washes.
16 2010
Seaweed-derived products from NZ Biotech company building sales in overseas markets
Nemidon, a NZ company that makes a range of gels derived from seaweed, including moisturiser, treatments for sports injuries, muscle aches and joint pain, is growing its overseas markets.
Ninety per cent of its products are exported and those overseas sales got a boost more than 10 years ago when founder Margaret Holloway took Nemidon’s gel on a marketing trip to a United States triathlon trade show. Offering it to a visitor proved to be a good move – he turned out to be a member of the US Olympic committee.
“The visitor who came to our booth used the gel and was impressed by its qualities. He then asked if we would be prepared to put the gel up for the US market,” Hollway said.
“What that has done for us is given us the credibility we needed early on to tackle our global push, as well as the credibility to enter the Aussie market.”
Nemidon’s gels are formulated using a seaweed extract that acts as a carrier delivering the active ingredients needed for rehabilitation of the skin.
16 2010
Cyanotech reports steady Q1 2011 for both its spirulina and astaxanthin products
The Hawaiian healthy algae specialist has reported revenues of $3,856,000 for the quarter ended 30 June, compared to $4,021,000 for the same period last year. Gross profit margin remained at 43 per cent, and gross profit was $1657,000, down slightly from $1733,000.
Its sales have been fairly evenly split between its two main products, spirulina (accounting for 51 percent of revenues) and astaxanthin (49 percent).
The company has been shifting its emphasis onto its consumer products, sold under its Nutrex Hawaii brand, and is aiming to introduce them to a broader consumer base than previously.
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