DuPont Nutrition & Health and AB-Biotics have signed a global collaboration and licensing agreement on AB-Life, a probiotic that is clinically documented to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in at-risk individuals.
Under the agreement, DuPont will have exclusive rights for the production, marketing and sales of AB-Life; and AB-Biotics will continue to conduct clinical research to further substantiate the proven health benefits of AB-Life.
AB-Life is a patented probiotic formulation developed by AB-Biotics, based in Barcelona, Spain. DuPont is integrating AB-Life into its documented HOWARU probiotic range for the dietary supplement and food and beverage industries. The company expects to launch the product in 4th quarter 2014.
"We are excited to work with AB-Biotics to support probiotics for heart health," said Fabienne Saadane-Oaks, vice president Health and Protection, DuPont Nutrition & Health.
"Probiotics is a fast-growing segment of our business as people increasingly experience the benefits they can provide. Our HOWARU® formulations have been clinically tested and shown to deliver the digestive and immune support people need, and we are looking forward to adding cardiovascular support to our probiotics portfolio."
The new probiotic will complement DuPont's portfolio for cardiovascular health, which includes Danisco Pinvita phytosterols, Danisco Evesse EPC, a natural apple extract and soy protein to address the needs of a global healthy aging population.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases are the No. 1 cause of death globally. Forty-three percent of cardiovascular deaths arise from coronary heart disease and 32 percent from strokes; raised cholesterol increases the risks of heart disease and stroke. Globally, a third of ischaemic heart disease is attributable to high cholesterol.
