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OptiBiotix, NIZO enter yogurt JV

OptiBiotix Health, a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes, has announced that it has entered into a 50/50 joint venture  agreement with NIP, a wholly owned undertaking of NIZO Food Research. As announced 28 October 2014, OptiBiotix incorporated its weight management formulation into fruit yoghurts which were manufactured by […]

OptiBiotix Health, a life sciences business developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes, has announced that it has entered into a 50/50 joint venture  agreement with NIP, a wholly owned undertaking of NIZO Food Research.

As announced 28 October 2014, OptiBiotix incorporated its weight management formulation into fruit yoghurts which were manufactured by NIZO.  An organoleptic (tasting) panel is said to have reported the yoghurt products had a smooth feel and taste and had the appearance of conventional yoghurts.These results have led to this JV agreement which has been established to develop, manufacture and distribute (both directly and indirectly) the weight management yoghurt and other dairy products to global markets. NIZO is said to provide manufacturing expertise, industry credibility and a global network of contacts in the dairy industry. This agreement will allow OptiBiotix to fast-track entry into global markets, the company said. Both companies are contributing background intellectual property (IP), with any new IP jointly owned.

OptiBiotix has a strategy to partner with multiple organisations and this JV agreement creates an opportunity to access global markets to commercialise the weight management formulation in yoghurt and other dairy products. This JV agreement comes about following the company’s attendance at Health Ingredients Europe last year, where OptiBiotix says it attracted interest in the product from Europe, the USA, South Korea, and Japan.

“Our weight management formulation has been especially created by industry experts to enhance satiation (feeling of fullness), increase metabolism and reduce energy harvest (calorie intake),” said Stephen O’Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix. “Successful manufacturing and tasting studies of our weight management formulation in yoghurts, coupled with early commercial interest and NIZO’s industry credibility, has allowed us to advance this opportunity earlier than expected. This announcement is consistent with OptiBiotix’s strategy of creating technology platforms which create multiple product and partnering opportunities and is the start of a process to build a strong and sustainable business.”