Under the collaboration, both the entities will utilise IMD’s database of biologically active natural substances and Bioprofiling technology platform to discover functional ingredients for specific food applications, and to bring suitable active substances to market-readiness.
Cognis has already licensed four other ingredients from IMD targeting weight management and heart health. Clinical studies for one of these projects will begin later this year. The other licensed ingredients are currently in advanced preclinical testing and scale-up process.
Bernhard Muller, director Global R&D/Technology at Cognis Nutrition & Health, said: “We are following a holistic approach to create new concepts that meet consumer requirements. This generates added value for our customers allowing them to differentiate themselves from their competitors. We expect the first product to hit the market within the next years.”
Bernard Becker, managing director of IMD, said: “Such success bodes well for IMD’s future. It underlines the potential of IMD’s food ingredient pipeline and proves the strength of our technology platform. It furthermore confirms our business model to make natural products into an essential part of the life science and chemical industries of tomorrow.”