BASF Human Nutrition will work with Irish start-up Nuritas to discover and commercialise new bioactive peptide networks within specific areas of interest.
The collaboration will focus on peptide networks that are natural, food-derived, patented and beneficial to the health of consumers.
Peptides are biologically occurring short chains of amino acids that provide health benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties.
The initial part of the ‘substantial deal’ will sees Nuritas grant an exclusive, royalty-based license to BASF to commercialise one of its existing peptides across a number of applications.
The second component of the collaboration entails on-demand discovery of new peptides, based on health areas that are ‘strategically important’ to BASF’s customers.
The companies revealed that Nuritas would make use of its unique technology platform, which uses artificial intelligence and DNA analysis to to predict, unlock and validate peptides exclusively from natural sources. BASF will use its scientific knowhow and global reach to scale up, formulate and commercialise the new bioactive peptide ingredients.
Saori Dubourg, who heads BASF’s nutrition and health division, said that the cooperation would allow the company to ‘expand its already broad portfolio of health solutions’.
“We think that Nuritas is bringing a truly unique and innovative approach in addition to the actual ingredient to the table”, added François Scheffler, head of BASF’s global human nutrition and pharma solutions businesses. “Therefore our cooperation with them makes us as BASF an even stronger partner for our customers, to fully support them in delivering highly efficacious solutions under the Newtrition brand, which means delivering the right nutrients to the right people at the right time.”
Nuritas CEO Emmet Browne added: “We are delighted to be working with a company of BASF’s status, global reach and business acumen in their quest to deliver sustainable, and highly impactful health ingredients. As a young, disruptive company, this agreement further accelerates our vision of improving the lives of billions of people worldwide through the predicted discovery of bioactive peptides.
“The ingredients that will be brought to the market are going to be truly life-changing and thus we are very excited to partner with one of the most innovative and far-reaching nutrition leaders to ensure these ingredients get into the hands of those that need them. We know this is just the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship for both companies as well as for so many consumers.”
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