Danisco and Kappa Bioscience Sign Vitamin K2 Agreement

08 Mar 2011

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With the addition of this new very pure Vitamin K2 MK-7 in their ActivK range, Danisco will be able to bring further opportunities to food manufacturers to expand the use of this highly functional vitamin in even more cost effective ways.

3/8/2011 --- Danisco and Kappa Bioscience have announced a close collaboration on the emerging Vitamin K2 MK-7 for the food industry in the areas of bone and cardiovascular health.

Kappa Bioscience is the first company to have developed a synthetic form of Vitamin K2 MK-7, with the same full bioavailability and bioequivalence as natural Vitamin K2 MK-7, in a proprietary process. With the addition of this new very pure Vitamin K2 MK-7 in their ActivK range, Danisco will be able to bring further opportunities to food manufacturers to expand the use of this highly functional vitamin in even more cost effective ways.

“This new agreement between Danisco and Kappa Bioscience will enable the expansion of Vitamin K2 into broad market segments. Not only will this aid the availability of a broader format of end products, it will also increase awareness and education amongst consumers , thus establishing this vitamin alongside many other highly functional and necessary vitamins," explains Peter Wisler, Director Business Development, Danisco Health & Nutrition.

It is Danisco’s ambition and focus to establish Vitamin K2 as a household name within food manufacturers. The umbrella brand ActivK currently includes the natural form of Vitamin K2 MK-7, best known for its high presence in the traditional Japanese food Natto, which is proven suitable in a wide range of food and dietary applications.

"Kappa and Danisco are in the process of gaining regulatory clearances in Europe and USA for this synthetic form of Vitamin K2 MK-7 which we expect later this year, and with that will be ready to launch into the functional food markets," adds Wisler.

Vitamin K2, specifically the long chained menaquinones, are known to have crucial influence on bone and cardio functions, and recently its importance was recognised by EFSA by granting a bone health claim for Vitamin K.

“Our agreement with Danisco reflects our shared commitment to boosting the portfolio of scientific evidence for Vitamin K2,’ comments Dr Egil Greve, CEO of Kappa Bioscience. “I strongly believe that together we can develop an exciting new ingredient category in the bone and cardiovascular health area, and that industry interest and confidence in Vitamin K2 will grow following this co-operation,” adds Greve.