Nutrinova and BRAIN Reach Milestone Development of All-Natural Sweetener Products

Nutrinova and BRAIN began their exclusive strategic collaboration in 2004 to develop natural sweetener and enhancer products. Since then, the companies have conducted extensive molecular screening programs.

26/06/08 Nutrinova GmbH, a global food ingredients supplier and a business of Celanese Corporation, and BRAIN AG, a leading European “white” biotech company, announced that they have identified all-natural compounds for high intensity sweeteners and sweetness enhancers.

“We have been engaged in a systematic search process to find potent high intensity sweeteners and sweetness enhancers, using proprietary natural compound libraries,” said Eckart von Haefen, president of Nutrinova. “We are now in a position to further evaluate the new substances and consider their development for market readiness.”

Nutrinova and BRAIN began their exclusive strategic collaboration in 2004 to develop natural sweetener and enhancer products. Since then, the companies have conducted extensive molecular screening programs, focusing on natural compounds derived from plant and microbial extracts.

“Health and wellness trends will continue to be a major market driver for our industry, and demand for reduced-calorie and pleasant-tasting products will continue to increase,” von Haefen said. “Successful development and market introduction of a natural sweetener that fulfills the quality and taste expectations of global food and beverage manufacturers would result in a significant expansion of the greater than US $1 billion global high intensity sweetener market and would offer Nutrinova attractive growth opportunities,” he said.

“The strategic cooperation with Nutrinova has led to promising biological compounds, which were only accessible by advanced molecular screening methods,” said Dr. Holger Zinke, CEO of BRAIN AG. “Joining forces to leverage our complementary expertise has resulted in successful progress and exciting commercial options. This is a good example of a truly modern, ‘open innovation’ R&D partnership.” Patent applications have been filed for the screening technologies and the compounds for natural high intensity sweeteners and sweetness enhancers.