Thorne Research chief executive Paul Jacobson was speaking to NutraIngredients-USA after acquiring exclusive global rights to sell Q-cell, a gel-based Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) formulation claimed to have superior bioavailability.
Bioavailability challenge
While consumer interest in CoQ10 has been growing, the challenge for supplement manufacturers has been to produce it in a form easily absorbed by the body, with suppliers exploring a range of bioavailability-boosting strategies from reducing particle size to producing soft-gel capsules containing emulsions of CoQ10 with other oils, or the use of novel carrier systems such as liposomes.
The Q-Cell - formerly Q-Best - supplement has a tri-lipid soft gel-based formulation shown to increase absorption rates by up to 10-fold in comparison to dry powder formulation CoQ10 supplements, according to Thorne, which markets its products through licensed healthcare practitioners.
Said Jacobson: “We acquired the rights to the product because there is significant data supporting its efficacy and bioavailability compared to other products.”
Patients on statins should take CoQ10
A naturally-occurring fat soluble antioxidant, CoQ10 plays a key role in the basic functioning of cells including cell metabolism and energy production.
But our ability to produce it decreases with age, the use of prescription drugs such as statins, and disease, added Jacobson.
“The opportunity is huge [but] we don’t believe it’s been properly explained and marketed to the MD market.
"CoQ10 is depleted by many of the world’s leading drugs. Statin sales [alone] are over $30bn, and patients on statins should take CoQ10.”
While CoQ10 was probably “not given to oncology patients all that much as of yet”, he said,” We’re working on gathering the data.”
The Q-cell formulation, containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), flaxseed oil, and monoglycerides, enabled the soft gel to “prevent crystallization, an after effect of some CoQ10 formulations that can disrupt the absorption process when metabolized in humans”, he added.
Dietary supplements for people living with cancer
Thorne Research, which recently created a joint venture with Swiss pharma company the Helsinn Group to develop a new range of dietary supplements for people living with cancer, said the deal was another major milestone in its work to develop “supplements for a range of health needs including supportive care in the oncology market”.
The firm, which believes there is a sizeable gap in the market for dietary supplements and nutritional advice specifically targeting people living with cancer, said new products developed by the joint venture with Helsinn products would be launched in the fall.
Speaking to NutraIngredients-USA in May, Jacobson said: “We’re not claiming to prevent, treat or cure cancer; we’re talking about supportive care: supplements addressing stomach problems, the immune system and the skin for people undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer therapies and we’re doing this in partnership with a pharmaceutical company, which is the right way to go about it.”
The Q-cell/Q-Best formulation had previously been marketed by Best Formulations, confirmed Jacobson. “It’s that product but inventors were involved as well.”
Sales of the supplement had been “strong but I’m not authorized to give other people’s sales figures”, he added. “The sales were mostly in the US.”
He added: “The patent should be issued shortly, and we have full use of the patent.”