Nestlé Health Science announced that it has entered into a global strategic partnership with Amazentis, a Swiss-based pioneer in science-driven nutritional health.
This partnership supports Nestlé’s pursuit of growth opportunities both in consumer healthcare and medical nutrition. Nestlé Health Science will take an equity stake in Amazentis and receive global rights to use Amazentis’ patented Urolithin A technology for dietary supplements, select foods and beverages, and medical nutrition products. Amazentis retains co-exclusive rights for the online distribution of dietary supplements and select food products as well as global exclusive rights for distribution of certain other defined categories. Nestlé Health Science and Amazentis will also conduct a joint research program to expand applications of Urolithin A into new consumer health and medical benefit areas.
Urolithin A is a bioactive dietary metabolite that is naturally produced when eating certain foods, such as the pomegranate, though it is difficult for most people to get enough of this specialized nutrient from food alone. Urolithin A is the first natural bioactive to improve mitochondrial function by activating mitophagy, a process by which aging and damaged mitochondria are cleared from the cell. Optimal mitochondrial function is central to cell metabolism and overall health. This is part of a new class of nutrients, called cellular nutrients, which go beyond traditional macro and micronutrients and are clinically proven to improve cellular health.
The science behind Urolithin A has been published in Nature Medicine and a Phase 1 clinical study was successfully completed, demonstrating a beneficial impact on biomarkers of mitochondrial health in plasma and in skeletal muscle tissue. Two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trials are being conducted to quantify the impact of Urolithin A on muscle health and function as well as other parameters. Urolithin A also has a strong safety profile as recognized by its recent, successful GRAS (generally recognized as safe) filing with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
