EnWave and Danisco BioActives Collaborate on Dehydration Technology

Post-dehydration bioactivity levels from the REV dehydration methods show that REV-dried cultures are capable of achieving equivalent, or possibly better bioactivity for certain cultures than freeze-dried samples.

10/04/09 EnWave Corporation has announced the successful completion of tests using its recently developed powderREV technology in the dehydration of cultures and probiotics from Danisco BioActives. The tests were conducted as the first phase of an Agreement signed with Danisco last year. The objective of the agreement is to create a dehydration method delivering high-speed continuous bulk powder processing capable of handling sensitive biological materials, such as cultures.

powderREV is a new Radiant Energy Vacuum (REV) process designed to convert a liquid stream of biological materials into bulk powder on a continuous basis. Preliminary tests on cultures were conducted at EnWave’s Vancouver lab using the single-vial REV prototype. Post-dehydration bioactivity levels from the REV dehydration methods show that REV-dried cultures are capable of achieving equivalent, or possibly better bioactivity for certain cultures than freeze-dried samples.

Based on the success of these early results, Danisco BioActives and EnWave will now undertake the second phase of the Agreement to evaluate the commercial viability of EnWave’s powderREV dehydration technology on a wider scope. The terms of the Agreement grant Danisco with exclusivity for a limited period of time.

Danisco BioActives and EnWave expect this second phase to be completed in the 2nd quarter of 2010. “We are excited by the opportunity to test our new powderREV technology with a leading global player in the food culture industry” said Dr. Tim Durance chairman and Co-CEO of EnWave. “We intend to build on the success of the phase one tests and look forward to exploring future collaboration opportunities with Danisco”.

The Danish group is a global leading supplier of cultures and probiotics for food, supplements and feed and holds a dominant position in cultures under dried form. Easier to handle, dried cultures bring greater flexibility to manufacturers in terms of storage volume and conditions as well as shelf-life stability.

“Danisco has always been proactive in searching for innovative technologies to improve the drying process of cultures.” said Egon Bech Hansen, Danisco Vice President –R&D Cultures. “The initial results from the tests with EnWave’s technology are encouraging. We are looking forward to expanding the testing on a larger scale prototype to better evaluate potential product and economic advantages”. If powderREV technology can demonstrate commercial feasibility on a scale, schedule and terms acceptable to both parties, EnWave would plan to enter a commercial sales and exclusive license agreement with Danisco.