Across the Nutra-verse: FDA’s big CBD meeting, DuPont’s new business unit, and more

03-Jun-2019 - Last updated on 03-Jun-2019 at 13:14 GMT

It’s a global industry and there’s a lot happening. We know it’s not always easy keeping up with everything that’s happening around the world. The answer? Our weekly round-up of key news from across the globe.

USA

FDA’s big CBD meeting

The US Food and Drug Administration held a much-anticipated public meeting to discuss the “Scientific Data and Information about Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds”.

Stakeholders from all sections of American society stepped up to the microphone to make their points, and displayed vastly different viewpoints about the topic.

As reported by NutraIngredients-USA, the meeting highlighted the complexity of the regulatory questions, which might stretch the timeline for a new legal framework to extent beyond which many in the industry would find acceptable.

Many presented expressed the need urgency to clarify the situation, given that the market for CBD products is exploding, with multiple product forms available with a wide range of quality.

The agency repeatedly asked questions about safe doses and requested detailed safety data to be submitted. The deadline for written comments on this issue is July 2.

Europe

DuPont creates Nutrition & Biosciences unit

DuPont has announced the creation of a new $6.3bn Nutrition & Biosciences business unit after merging its Nutrition & Health and Industrial Biosciences Businesses.

Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, the new business will be spread across 70 manufacturing sites and 25 innovation centers worldwide.

“Combining the two businesses is a step to further accelerate growth and innovation while better providing customers across our industries with innovative, healthy, safe and sustainable solutions,” said Matthias Heinzel, the new unit’s new president.

The business unit will be split between three platforms, the business will focus on Food & Beverage, Health & Bioscience and Pharma Solutions.

For more about this, please click HERE.

Asia

Gencor eyes South East Asia and Taiwan after Levagen study boost

Knee joint © Getty Images stockdevil — © Getty Images / stockdevil

Following positive results from a clinical trial assessing the potential effects of Levagen on osteoarthritis, Gencor Pacific is eyeing success in South East Asia and Taiwan, according to NutraIngredients-Asia.

Levagen is a form of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), known as an anti-inflammatory compound and pain reliever that protects against muscle deterioration. A recent study published in the journal Inflammopharmacology focused on osteoarthritis with the aim of being able to make health claims on nutraceuticals for healthy populations.

“We have conducted peer-reviewed and published toxicity, clinical, in vitro and animal studies, and we have a GRAS (generally recognised as safe) dossier for the US market for Levagen,” said RV Venkatesh, Gencor’s managing director.

“We are also trying to launch in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan, where we’ve had discussions with industry partners.

“In fact, our partner in Malaysia, and Pharmako in Australia, have taken the initiative to file the necessary paperwork on our behalf.”