Neptune takes MaxSimil delivery technology into sports channel
Neptune, which is based in Laval, Quebec, markets its formulation offerings under the aegis of Neptune Wellness Solutions. The company was until recently one of the major krill oil suppliers. After a deal with category leader Aker BioMarine, Neptune is exiting that business and moving into other ingredient supply streams. Licensing the MaxSimil enzymatic treatment technology, which breaks omega-3s and other lipid-based ingredients down into a more readily absorbed monoglyceride form, is a big part of that new strategy.
New channel
The company first launched the high absorption fish oil with Xymogen, a Florida practitioner channel supplement company. Xymogen markets the ingredients as Omega Monopure. Now with that market experience under its belt, Neptune is seeking new distribution channels, such as the new deal with Canadian fitness personality Charles R Poliquin, who produces his own supplement line under the name Strength Sensei Nutraceuticals. Poliquin will market the product as OmegaDrive to the fitness coaching community.
Neptune says the MaxSimil technology mimics the biological digestive process by "predigesting" fish oils to deliver absorption-ready monoglyceride-rich omega-3 fish oils. Neptune claims to have data that show that fish oils so treated are absorbed three time better than standard fish oils.
“The value proposition for the strength community is less for more. Fewer pills for more effect,” François-Karl Brouillette, Neptune’s vice president of science and innovation told NutraIngredients-USA. “We are really excited to see how this does in the strength channel.”
Brouillette said that the MaxSimil technology is a platform that can be expanded beyond fish oils, which Neptune recently did with the licensing of the technology for use with CBDs.
Diversified delivery system
“This is really a delivery system,” he said. “It emulsifies the oil so there is a greater surface area of contact. We can start combining this with other hard to absorb ingredients.”
Brouillette said the technology is gaining traction in the marketplace, in part because it is a fairly gentle, ‘natural’ process that yields an ingredient without additional side effects beyond those of the base material. Some other absorption enhancements can start to look more like drug delivery vehicles, he said.
“We are doing this without any excipients. Some ingredients that are used to emulsify oils could change permeability of cells. So it’s something to be wary of,” he said.
