Strategic alliance between the 2 major domestic producers of astaxanthin.
Both shiney and both low cost. Their production facilities are already in place and depreciated. Their scale is >100x larger (Cyanotech have 90 acres). Cyanotech is open ponds, Valensa is a closed system. Both are FDA approved. Hmmmmmmm.
Orlando, Fla., Feb. 14 - Valensa International announced today that it has increased its capacity for the extraction of Haematococcuspluvialis for the manufacture of finished all-natural astaxanthin.
14/02/2008
The move was made in light of recently growing demand for a high-quality astaxanthin in North America, Asia and Europe that is both pesticide-free and allergen-free -two conditions that are only possible with select raw material sources and extraction facilities.
In addition to market demand, a recently formed Strategic Alliance with Cyanotech Corporation (Kona, HI), where Valensa provides extraction services of raw material provided by Cyanotech, willrequire increased capacity to facilitate orderly growth of supply for themarket and increased uptake of Valensa's own ZANTHIN(R) natural astaxanthin brand.
The capacity expansion will be approximately 20% and will be achieved primarily through manufacturing efficiencies and de-bottlenecking its facilities in Eustis, Florida, USA. The expansion will include new facilities for screening biomass against the presence of pesticides. Astaxanthin products extracted at Valensa's Eustis facility will be certified pesticide- andallergen-free.
According to Dr. Rudi Moerck, President of Valensa, high-quality astaxanthin biomass and strict quality control in manufacturing are the twokey elements for creating a finished astaxanthin product that meets or exceeds the quality and regulatory requirements of world markets.
"There is growing interest and excitement about the potential of astaxanthin - the world's most potent antioxidant with clinical trial data indicating support in areas suchas eye health, neurological health, immune support, inflammation reduction andskin health. Recently, the demand for a high-quality, pesticide-free source ofthe product has outstripped supply. The Strategic Alliance that we have formedwith Cyanotech Corporation and our move to increase extraction capacity willhelp meet market requirements for this growing demand," he said.
"Valensa hasprovided extraction services to Cyanotech for some time now and we wereimpressed by their biomass purity and pesticide-free profile," he said.
"Ourcompany has previously qualified a number of astaxanthin biomass sources, butproduct purity and overall product integrity led us to choose Cyanotech as ourprincipal algae biomass supplier." Valensa's ZANTHIN(R) natural astaxanthin product has been marketed in the United States for over a decade and was thefirst astaxanthin extract to have Novel Foods approval in the European Unionin July 2004.
"These approvals require a pesticide-free, solvent-free and allergen-free astaxanthin. By qualifying our suppliers and screening our rawmaterials, through the use of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technology and through our superior quality management, we are uniquely positioned to deliver the astaxanthin products required by world markets,"said Dr. Moerck.
