ChromaDex Updates Research Activity Agreements For Its NIAGEN Nicotinamide Riboside

25 Nov 2013 --- ChromaDex Corporation, an innovative natural products company that provides proprietary, science-based solutions and ingredients to the dietary supplement, food and beverage, animal health, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, announced an update on recent material transfer agreement activity with significant universities and research institutes for its NIAGEN nicotinamide riboside (NR).

The Company is pleased to report that it has received an unprecedented number of inquiries from universities and research institutes from around the world who have expressed interest in entering into agreements for ChromaDex to provide quantities of its NIAGEN nicotinamide riboside for planned research studies. Studies conducted by researchers will add to the growing amount of data showing many of the important health benefits of nicotinamide riboside, and portends possible pharmaceutical uses for NIAGEN.

Commenting on the announcement, Frank Jaksch, ChromaDex Founder and CEO, states "It was only after we launched NIAGEN that we began to fully understand the existing widespread interest within the research community regarding nicotinamide riboside as a precursor to NAD+. We are pleased to have signed agreements with such esteemed institutions as MIT, Universite Libre de Bruxelles and The Scripps Research Institute and hope to continue to add to the growing list of highly renowned researchers and universities studying the important health benefits of nicotinamide riboside."

Most recently, ChromaDex entered into a material transfer agreement (MTA) with Massachusetts Institute of Technology whereby ChromaDex will provide MIT with quantities of its NIAGEN nicotinamide riboside for research purposes.

Dr. Leonard Guarente, Novartis Professor of Biology at MIT, has been studying the relationship between sirtuins, which are novel nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+ dependent protein deacetylases, and aging and diseases of aging. His studies have shown that sirtuins help mediate the health-promoting effects of a diet of calorie restriction. Recent studies by his and other labs have shown that aging or diseases can reduce the levels of NAD+ or alter the balance between NAD+ and NADH, an electrically neutral form of the molecule. Extensive data shows that increasing levels of the sirtuin SIRT1 in the brain protects against several neurodegenerative diseases in transgenic rodent models, but that protection is incomplete.  In future studies, Guarente will address whether increasing NAD+ levels via nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation, by itself or in combination with increasing SIRT1 levels, confers additional protection.

Earlier this month, ChromaDex entered into a material transfer agreement with Universite Libre de Bruxelles, whereby the company will provide ULB with quantities of its recently launched NIAGEN™ nicotinamide riboside.

Dr. Oberdan Leo, with the collaboration of Drs. Fabienne Andris, Anthony Rongvaux and Frederic Van Gool at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, identified the mammalian gene encoding for nicotinamide phosphoribosyl tranferase (Nampt), the rate limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway linking nicotinamide (a major component of Vitamin B3) to NAD. The group led by Dr. Leo later demonstrated that this biosynthetic pathway plays an important role in lymphocyte development and in the regulation of innate immunity.

Dr. Leo commented, "The discovery that immune activation led to increased expression of Nampt led us to postulate intracellular NAD status may play an important role during an immune response. Exogenous NR has been shown to promote intracellular NAD accumulation and we are therefore thrilled by the possibility to explore, in collaboration with ChromaDex scientists, the effect of NR on the immune system in a series of preclinical models."

Lastly, in July 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with The Scripps Research Institute also to provide TSRI with quantities of NIAGEN nicotinamide riboside for research purposes. TSRI researchers have been studying the relationship between dysfunction of mitochondria, the energy-producing parts of the cell, and various life-threatening diseases. More specifically, the studies have focused on whether disease-affected cells change the balance between nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+, which has a positive charge, and NADH, an electrically neutral form of the molecule. 

TSRI research has shown that therapeutic normalization of the NAD+/NADH balance can prevent the disease progression.  The results translate into a new therapeutic strategy: enhancement of the NAD+/NADH balance through treatment with NAD+ precursors, such as nicotinamide riboside.

ChromaDex's NIAGEN has the potential to be a next generation Niacin (Vitamin B3) and become part of the portfolio of B-vitamin ingredients that are included in products serving multi-billion dollar markets such as multi-vitamins, nutraceuticals, weight loss, energy drinks, sports nutrition, meal replacements, infant formula, and the food and beverage industry.

NIAGEN is the first and only commercially available brand of NR. Over the past two years, ChromaDex has built a significant patent portfolio pertaining to NR by separately acquiring patent rights from Cornell University, Dartmouth College and Washington University.  ChromaDex believes its patent rights create a significant and meaningful barrier to entry for would-be competitors in the NR market.