Under this agreement, OmniActive is required to educate consumers and increase awareness of the health benefits of zeaxanthin, while developing innovative delivery forms and distributing them to the marketplace.
"OmniActive's vast experience in supplying nutritional ingredients to the healthcare, food and personal care industries makes them a natural fit for Kalsec," said Dr Scott Nykaza, COO for Kalsec.
"By capitalizing on OmniActive's expertise, we are looking forward to developing new relationships in the marketplace."
Kalamazoo, Michigan-based Kalsec launched paprika-derived zeaxanthin onto the eye health ingredients market in 2006.
The company’s zeaxanthin is natural, Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) and exempt from certification under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) color additive regulations.
Zeaxanthin
The macula is a yellow spot of about five millimeters diameter on the retina. As we age, levels of the pigments in the macula decrease naturally, thereby increasing the risk of AMD. The yellow color is due to the content of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which we derive from the diet.
These compounds are the only carotenoids capable of filtering the harmful blue light than can damage cells in the eye, the rods and the cones.
A thin macular pigment can allow the blue light through and destroy the cells. Maintaining high levels of both carotenoids, and therefore the macular pigment, is a valid approach to maintaining eye health and reducing the risk of AMD.
Sanjaya Mariwala, managing director of OmniActive, said the partnership will broaden its eye health ingredient portfolio. "Additionally, Kalsec will benefit from access to our extensive worldwide distribution network. We look forward to engaging in a highly successful partnership."