Specialty chemicals supplier Cognis and InterMed Discovery (IMD), a natural product lead-discovery company, are continuing their strategic cooperation: Cognis has now exclusively licensed two new active ingredients for weight management and cognitive performance from IMD, further expanding the company’s innovation pipeline.

Specialty chemicals supplier Cognis and InterMed Discovery (IMD), a natural product lead-discovery company, are continuing their strategic cooperation: Cognis has now exclusively licensed two new active ingredients for weight management and cognitive performance from IMD, further expanding the company’s innovation pipeline. Tests on the products Cognis has already acquired from IMD are already delivering promising results.

During their ongoing collaboration, Cognis and IMD have utilized IMD’s database of biologically active natural substances and its unique IMD Bioprofiling technology platform to discover innovative functional ingredients for specific food applications, and to bring suitable active substances to market readiness. In combination with Cognis’ experience and expertise in nutrition, this has led to the discovery of additional product candidates that help with weight management and cognitive performance. Cognis’ own research has given it insights into important aspects of brain health such as learning ability, cognitive performance (and ways of maintaining this with age), alertness and concentration.

One of the candidates is a new ingredient that is showing promising benefits for weight management in different test systems. The second new ingredient is a promising product for improving brain health, as in vivo tests have shown potential on cognitive performance. Cognis plans to carry out further in vivo tests and research studies for these ingredients later this year. Cognis has already licensed four other ingredients from IMD targeting weight management and heart health. Clinical studies for one of these projects will begin later this year. The other licensed ingredients are currently in advanced preclinical testing and scale-up process.

“Developing breakthrough innovations that are backed by strong science and deliver proven health benefits is a crucial part of our value-driven innovation strategy. We are following a holistic approach to create new concepts that meet consumer requirements. This generates added value for our customers allowing them to differentiate themselves from their competitors,” said Bernhard Müller, director global R&D/technology Cognis Nutrition & Health. “These latest ingredients will further strengthen our product portfolio in important global growth markets. We expect the first product to hit the market within the next year.”

Cognis
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