Nutraceuticals International articles from May 2003

Nutraceuticals International archives from May 2003

Sales up at Novartis' nutrition unit in 1st qtr.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Swiss drugmaker Novartis has reported a robust sales performance for the quarter ended March 31, but said that profits remained flat on the like, year-earlier period as the company absorbed losses relating to its share holding in Roche. ...

Roche below forecasts, vitamins sales falling.(Hoffmann-La Roche AG's first quarter)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Roche of Switzerland has posted sales growth slightly below analysts' estimates for the quarter ended March 31, as the strength of the US dollar over the Swiss franc served to drag turnover below expectations. For the three-month period, the...

Natrol's losses widen in 2002, sales flat.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... California, USA-based Natrol reined in its losses during 2002 while sales remained flat. The improvement in net loss was attributable to the recording of lower exceptional charges last year over 2001. For the 12-month period, net loss was...

Revenues soar at Natural Health Trends.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The USA's Natural Health Trends Corp has continued its trend of strong year-on-year growth, posting a 60% leap in revenues to $39.7 million for 2002. The robust performance was fuelled by sales of its Lexxus range of products' which the firm...

Danone swallows more of Yakult; stake now at 19%, Japanese firm left in limbo.(Yakult Honsha Company Ltd., dairy products)
May 1, 2003... France-based food and beverages giant Danone has upped its stake in Japan's Yakult Honsha in a move which has prompted rumors of a takeover bid for the firm, which is most famous for its fermented probiotic lactic drink. Shares in the latter...

Sales edge upward at Nutraceutical in 2nd qtr.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The USA's Nutraceutical International has reported a 10.8% increase in sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2003 ended March 31. Turnover for the three-month period totaled $30.6 million compared with $27.6 million in the same quarter of...

EU delays Roche/DSM vitamins deal approval.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The European Commission has announced a delay to its decision on the proposed acquisition by Netherlands-based DSM of Roche's vitamins and fine chemicals unit. A decision on the deal is now scheduled for May 20. Meantime, the Dutch...

Revenues soar at Pure World in first quarter.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The USA's Pure World, a manufacturer of botanical extracts, has reported a more-than-doubling in revenues for the first quarter of 2003 on the back of increased sales and new product launches by customers using the firm's extracts. For the...

Nestle underperforms in first quarter.(Switzerland's Nestle SA)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Switzerland's Nestle SA, the world's largest consumer foods group, has reported lower-than-expected overall sales and earnings for the first quarter of 2003 as the company suffered from the impact of a late Easter holiday on its chocolate and...

Vital in Essentum deal.(Vital Living)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... USA-based Vital Living has entered into an accord with Healthcare Financial Services which will see the latter market and distribute its cardiovascular disease product Essentum. HFS' sales force will be compensated on a commission basis for...

Merck sells Nutriblend unit to LycoRed.(LycoRed Natural Products)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Germany's Merck KGaA has sold its UK-based Nutriblend business to LycoRed Natural Products in a move which reflects the former's refocusing of activities on products and services for the pharmaceutical industry. Under the terms of the...

BioProgress poised for AIM flotation.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... UK-based encapsulation technology developer BioProgress is pressing ahead with its previously-announced plans to list on the Alternative Investment Market during the first half of this year (Marketletter September 30, 2002), likely making it...

Profits down at Numico; ephedra sales to cease.(Royal Numico)
May 1, 2003... Netherlands-based Royal Numico, the world's leading manufacturer of vitamins and food supplements, has reported disappointing results for the first quarter of 2003 as its General Nutrition Centers franchise continued to underperform, weighed...

Northland Cranberries on the rise.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The USA's Northland Cranberries, which has been in the news of late after making an $800 million hostile takeover bid for rival Ocean Spray (NI vol 8, nos 3 & 4) has reported results for its fiscal second quarter ended February 28, 2003, which...

Solid set of first-qtr results for Coca-Cola.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Coca-Cola has reported first-quarter 2003 net profits of $835 million, or $0.34 per share, including one-time charges, compared with a loss of $194 million, or $0.08 per share in the same period last year. Excluding one-time items related...

Net income rises 13% at PepsiCo.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... PepsiCo says earnings before special items rose 13% to $777 million, or $0.45 per share (+17%), for the first quarter of 2003, while sales topped $5.5 billion, an increase of 5% compared with the like, year- earlier period. The company...

Carrington sales up 85%.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Carrington Laboratories, whose activities include the Aloe vera-based nutraceutical raw material Manapol, has reported that its 2003 first- quarter revenues climbed nearly 85% to $6.9 million from $3.7 million a year earlier. Net loss for the...

D&E to offer contract manufacturing.(D&E Pharmaceuticals)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... D&E Pharmaceuticals has launched a contract manufacturing business serving small- to medium-sized nutraceutical suppliers. Under the program, D&E will provide end-to-end production capabilities by sharing its expertise in formulation, new...

Another strong quarter for NBTY and more acquisitions are in the pipeline.
May 1, 2003... NBTY of the USA says that, for the fiscal second quarter ended March 2003, sales increased 10% to $278 million, while net income reached $20 million, or $0.29 per share, a decrease of 23.1% compared with the like, year-earlier period. However,...

NCLI divests direct services subsidiary.(Nutraceutical Clinical Laboratories International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Nutraceutical Clinical Laboratories International has completed the sale of its non-core Health Care Direct Services subsidiary to the unit's management. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Chief executive Gary Harrison said that...

BI Nutra not part of Hauser bankruptcy.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Zuellig Botanicals, which does business as BI Nutraceuticals, has stated that it "is not, and will not be" a part of the recent bankruptcy filing made by the US herbal maker Hauser and its wholly- owned subsidiaries, Botanicals International...

Nutra deal for Mera.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Mera Pharmaceuticals has signed a deal with Albertson's, the USA's second-largest grocery chain, whereby the latter will sell AstaFactor, Mera's astaxanthin nutritional supplement, in approximately 1,200 stores. Richard Propper, Mera's...

FDA seeks comment on health claims task force.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The US Food and Drug Administration's new Task Force on Consumer Health Information for Better Nutrition (NI vol 8, no 2) has set up a public docket asking for comments on its agenda from interested stakeholders. Chaired by Deputy FDA...

US committee mulls metabolite definition.
May 1, 2003... At a recent conference held by the US Food and Drug Administration, there was general agreement on the key principles applicable in determining whether substances are metabolites of dietary ingredients eligible for marketing under the Dietary...

hGH product destroyed after falling foul of FDA.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... US firm Nature's Youth has destroyed about $515,000-worth of its dietary supplement product, Nature's Youth hGH, after it was found by the US Food and Drug Administation to have made unsubstantiated structure-function claims for the line. The...

Sex supplement found to contain Viagra active.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Investigators for the US Food and Drug Administration found sildenafil, the active ingredient for Pfizer's Viagra, when they looked into a herbal supplement promoted as a sex aid. The product, Vinarol, has been voluntarily recalled by its...

FDA throws in the towel on antioxidant and cancer claim.
May 1, 2003... The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared another qualified health claim after conceding a legal battle arising from the Pearson versus Shalala ruling of January 1999 (NIs passim). Antioxidant vitamins on the US market will now be able to...

EU gives go-ahead to two novel foods.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Two marketing authorizations under the requirements of the European Union's Regulation on Novel Foods and Novel Ingredients were approved in April. The first is for Noni juice (the juice of the fruit of Morinda citrifolia L). Over three...

European proposals on food and health claims.
May 1, 2003... Legislation on food and health claims has been a controversial issue in the European Union for well over 20 years. The first proposal for a directive on food claims was circulated by the European Commission in 1980. Agreement on the content...

UK consumers are putting their faith in complementary medicines.
May 1, 2003... The latest research from Mintel sees the UK complementary medicines market rising almost 60% in the last five years to reach L130 million ($203 million). Despite this rapid rate of growth, the market slowed somewhat in 2002, held back by the...

EU Commission publishes adopted amended proposal on herbal medicines.
May 1, 2003... In April, the European Commission adopted its Amended Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2001/83/EC relating to traditional herbal medicinal products (Marketletters passim). It has adopted 27 amendments in total, of which the modified...

Functional foods outpace supplements in $21.3 billion Japanese market.(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2003... Sales of functional foods are flourishing at three times the rate of the nutritional supplement market in Japan. Spearheading this growth are products pre-approved as Foods for Specified Health Use, which may carry explicit health claims. Yet...

Thai energy drinks market grows 17%.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Last year, the Thai energy drink market grew 17%, and double-digit growth is expected again this year. Currently, the Osotspa Group's M- 150 claims to be market leader, with Krating Daeng and Carabao Dang each claiming second place. Red Bull...

Australian Minster slams "opium" drink.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... An energy drink linked to the drug opium is being sold in Melbourne, Australia, clubs and pubs, and health experts have demanded that the product, branded Naughty Boy, be banned. The drink, made in Victoria, contains crushed poppy seeds and is...

New Zealand will prosecute over some "nutra" marketing practices.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The New Zealand Ministry of Health has said it will prosecute people selling expensive sugar pills as treatments for cancer and other serious diseases, following reports in a local newspaper about the questionable tactics being used to promote...

Australia's biggest-ever drug recall points up problems throughout Asia-Pacific.
May 1, 2003... Australia's federal government has said it will introduce new provisions and far stiffer penalties for complementary health products makers which produce false or misleading information concerning their products. This follows the removal...

Boom time for herbals in Malaysia.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The herbal industry in Malaysia is growing 15% a year, according to M Rajen, director of the Malaysian Herbal Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysian Industry Government Group for High Technology. He told the Herbal Malaysia...

US sugar industry threat to WHO funding over healthy diet recommendations.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The US sugar industry has received widespread condemnation for its unprecedented attack on the long-awaited World Health Organization/United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Expert Report on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of...

Concord grape juice cuts blood pressure in hypertensive men.
May 1, 2003... Men with elevated blood pressure who drank Concord grape juice for 12 weeks experienced a significant drop in both their systolic and diastolic blood pressures, according to results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study...

Gelatine mechanism in joint health proposed.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The protective effects of gelatine supplementation on articular cartilage have been studied in a plethora of scientific studies over the last few decades but now, for the first time, researchers from Kiel University in Germany have provided...

Fatty acid ester blend from Imagenetix.
May 1, 2003... A proprietary cetylated fatty acid ester blend that has been shown in studies to significantly increase joint mobility, developed by Imagenetix of the USA, is bioavailable when given either orally or applied topically, according to a poster...

Slim Fast cuts weight in type 2 diabetics.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... A study conducted by researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles in the USA, presented at the 2003 Experimental Biology conference, has suggested that soy protein-based meal replacements may be a viable option for sustainable...

Diachrome improves lipid profiles in diabetics.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Nutrition 21's Diachrome (chromium picolinate/biotin) significantly improves cholesterol profiles in people with type 2 diabetes, according to the results of a 34-patient trial reported at Experimental Biology 2003. The firm believes that the...

B vitamins may help chronic pain sufferers.(according to scientists at the Research Institute at Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Scientists at the Research Institute at Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, Texas, say they may have found an effective treatment for various painful conditions caused by injuries to the nervous system. Tests using vitamins such as B1...

Yogurt may help burn body fat.(research presented by Michael Zemel of the University of Tennessee )
May 1, 2003... New research presented at the Experimental Biology conference in San Diego, USA, reveals that eating yogurt may help dieters lose body fat while maintaining lean muscle. The research, presented by Michael Zemel of the University of Tennessee in...

Americans missing chromium targets.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... An analysis of the consumption of chromium food sources by US consumers, using data from the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals for 1994-1996, has determined that Americans may not be meeting the Institute of Medicine's Adequate...

Natumi launches So Well Tri-Drink.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Germany's Natumi GmbH has introduced So Well Tri-Drink, claimed to help prevent cardiovascular diseases, hormonal cancers, elevated cholesterol and blood sugar levels, osteoporosis and menopause symptoms, in Germany, the UK and France. So...

Actisun takes on "little bottle" probiotics in UK.(from French dairy firm Triballat Noyal )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... A new player has emerged in the UK market for "little bottle" daily probiotics, currently dominated by Yakult and Danone with its Actimel brand. The new non-dairy, soy-based product, made by French dairy firm Triballat Noyal and called Sojasun...

ArkoPharma's Exolise suspended from sale.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Regulatory authorities in France and Spain have suspended Arkopharma's green tea-based diet aid, Exolise, according to a report from Nicholas Hall & Co. The suspension is for 12 months and follows a reported 13 cases of liver damage since the...

New products from Minute Maid.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Coca-Cola's juice subsidiary, Minute Maid, has rolled out two new products claiming health benefits. The first is a range of calcium and vitamin D-fortified juices, and the second is BeginIt, a whey-based fruit drink with smoothie-like...

Taisho launches Livita range in Japan.(Taisho Pharmaceutical)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Japan's Taisho Pharmaceutical, best known for its Lipovitan brand tonic drinks, has unveiled a new umbrella brand that will cover a range of food products intended to provide health benefits. Livita (standing for Life Vitality Support). ...

Roche launches new lutein product forms.(Roche Vitamins )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Roche Vitamins has launched two new lutein product forms for the food and dietary supplement market, namely lutein 5% CWS and lutein 5% TG/P. Lutein is one of the fastest-growing new ingredients to hit the food and dietary supplement industry...

Procter & Gamble and Pharmavite to leverage Olay brand for supplements.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Procter & Gamble has licensed the use of its Olay trademark, covering its well-known brand of moisturizer, to vitamin company Pharmavite in order to allow the latter to manufacture and market Olay-brand nutritional supplements. The move brings...

GlucoCare trial backs blood sugar claims.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... A 30-patient clinical trial of Himalaya USA's GlucoCare (also known as Diabecon and Glucosim) has revealed that the herbal supplement can achieve a marked reduction in blood sugar levels, both in the fasting state and after meals, when tested...

Juvenon starts cardiovascular disease trial.(using its Juvenon Energy formula)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... US firm Juvenon has initiated a clinical trial to evaluate the effect of its Juvenon Energy formula product on endothelial function in elderly patients with coronary artery disease. Preclinical studies have suggested that the supplement can...

Directly Young launches serotonin product.(Serotab)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... US company Directly Young has started marketing Serotab, a dietary supplement claimed to be the first to contain the neurotransmitter serotonin, in Florida. Serotonin would ordinarily be broken down rapidly in the gastrointestinal tract, but...

Dolisos launches Seriane supplement in UK.(for everyday stress)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... France's Dolisos has introduced its Seriane dietary supplement into the UK market. The product is based on casein decapeptide, derived from hydrolyzed milk protein, and is claimed to "help those who suffer from occasional stress linked to...

ScienceBased Health unveils eye product.(MacularProtect Complete)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... ScienceBased Health has introduced MacularProtect Complete, described as "an all-in-one nutritional formulation that combines high-potency antioxidant protection with complete multi-nutrient coverage to protect eyesight and overall body...

PUFAs in infancy may cut heart disease.(polyunsaturated fatty acids )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Adding long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids to infant formula milk is associated with lower blood pressure later in childhood, and may cut the risk of heart disease in adult life, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal...

Kikkoman gets GRAS status for Gravinol.(grapeseed extract Generally Recognized as Safe status)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Japanese ingredients company Kikkoman Corp has been granted Generally Recognized as Safe status in the USA for Gravinol, its grape seed extract, via the Food and Drug Administration's self-affirmation process. The product has already been...

AOBO: deal to supply soy products to Japan.(American Oriental Bioengineering)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... American Oriental Bioengineering, a nutraceutical firm that uses proprietary processes for producing soy protein ingredients more efficiently than with traditional extracting techniques, has signed a letter of intent with Howa Shoji to export...

SMS launches fenugreek supplement in India.(SMS Pharmaceuticals)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... India's SMS Pharmaceuticals has made a first foray into the nutraceuticals market with the launch of Fenudiet, a dietary fiber product, based on fenugreek, intended for individuals with diabetes. Aside from fenugreek seed fiber, the product...

Alkem introduces functional biscuits.(Fibromax fiber-reenforced biscuits)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Alkem has introduced a range of biscuits with added fiber in India, its home market, for people with constipation. The Fibromax range is flavored with pudina spices and comes in 25g packets, each priced at 14.95 rupees ($0.34), according to...

NZ's Blis Tech launches probiotic supplement.(Blis Bio Restore)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... New Zealand-based biotechnology company Blis Technologies has launched a probiotic dietary supplement, Blis Bio Restore, based on Danisco's Howaru strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis (NI vol 2, no 8). The product is...

Forthcoming meetings/events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... - This year's Natural Products Expo Europe will be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 4-5 (www. expoeurope.com), to be followed later the same month by Natural Products Expo Asia in Hong Kong, China, June 18-20...

People on the move.(in nutraceuticals, measuring instruments industry)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... - At Royal Numico of the Netherlands, Rudy Mareel has been appointed to the executive board with responsibility for the firm's newly-formed clinical nutrition division, while Ajai Puri takes on a similar role heading up the new R&D division;...