Senomyx receives GRAS determination for savory enhancers

04/03/05 Senomyx, Inc. has announced that the company has been notified by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) that its savory enhancers S807 and S336 have been determined to be Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) under the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, administered by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

In addition, two of the company's other savory enhancers, S263 and S976, which are related to S336, were also determined to be GRAS. These savory enhancers, discovered and developed by Senomyx, are intended to provide for the reduction or elimination of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and to augment the flavor of naturally occurring glutamate found in many food and beverage products. The GRAS determination will enable incorporation of Senomyx's savory enhancers into a variety of food products including sauces, frozen foods, processed cheese and snack foods.

Extensive scientific safety data were submitted by Senomyx to the expert panel of FEMA for GRAS determination. In 1960, FEMA established the FEMA Expert Panel as an independent group of scientific experts to review the safety of flavoring substances and ensure that such substances added to foods are safe for their intended use. The Expert Panel has operated continuously since it was first appointed in 1960 and has determined more than two thousand substances are GRAS.

Senomyx is a biotechnology company using proprietary taste receptor-based assays, screening technologies, and optimization chemistry to discover and develop novel flavor enhancers and taste modulators for the packaged food and beverage industry. Senomyx's current programs focus on the development of flavor enhancers and taste modulators in four taste areas: savory, sweet, salt and bitter. Senomyx has entered into product discovery and development collaborations with four of the world's leading packaged food and beverage companies: Campbell Soup Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Foods Global, Inc. and Nestle SA.

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