Spengler, a seasoned pharmaceutical and consumer products executive with more than 30 years of senior management experience, said it was now time to move on:
“With the company's business plan unfolding nicely and a successful round of equity financing recently completed, ChromaDex is now well positioned for sustained growth. I believe that the company has a bright future ahead of it."
Debra Heim appointed chief operating officer
New chief executive Jeffrey Himmel is expected to assume the role of president, said the firm, which has also appointed Debra A. Heim as its chief operating officer and president of its consumer products division.
Heim has over 20 years' experience with consumer brands companies said Himmel: “Having personally worked with Debra for more than 15 years, I am thrilled to have her join the executive management team.
"Her experience and skill sets with branded consumer products are an ideal fit, as we are just beginning the national retail launch of our BluScience line of dietary supplements."
Ingredients and finished products
ChromaDex supplies phytochemical/botanical reference standards and materials and conducts analytical testing and contract research.
It also develops and sells nutraceuticals from the antioxidant pterostilbene to Nicotinamide Riboside, a more potent version of niacin (vitamin B3).
The most advanced of these in commercial terms is pTeroPure, a branded nature identical formulation of pterostilbene targeted at manufacturers of dietary supplements and food/beverages interested in cardiovascular health, cognitive function and anti-aging.
However, ChromaDex has also moved into the retail/consumer market in recent months with the launch of its new BluScience branded line of supplements, which contain pTeroPure.
Launched at GNC last fall, they are now being rolled out in Walgreens stores across the US and are also on sale at Drugstore.com.
New alliance gives ChromaDex foothold in Latin America
Last week, ChromaDex also signaled its ambitions in the Latin American market after announcing a strategic alliance with biotech firm OPKO Health, under which ChromaDex has licensed BluScience, pTeroPure and other products and technologies to OPKO for distribution and development in Latin America.
Himmel said: “We see Latin America as a bright spot with great long-term economic prospects.”
Pterostilbene is claimed to have superior biological activity, better oral bioavailability and metabolizes more slowly in the body than other polyphenols.