Pharmanex announced the acquisition of a unique patented technology that can facilitate a strengthening of the human immune system. The patent holds a unique way of preserving the biological activity of colostrum, the ingredient found in all mammals' milk, which has demonstrated benefits to children and adults. The acquisition was made to buttress products marketed by Pharmanex, which produces science-supported nutritional supplements.
Colostrum is the most highly nutritious part of milk, a substance rich in protein, growth factors and immune factors, and secreted by all female mammals in the first few days of lactation following birth. Whereas humans secrete this beneficial protein in small amounts for about two days after childbirth, cows, on the other hand, can produce as much as nine gallons. Because bovine colostrum is actually four times richer in immune activity than human colostrum, bovine colostrum has numerous health applications. Through careful preservation and evaluation methods utilized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), bovine colostrum can be safely consumed by all other mammals. However, much of the benefit of colostrum is lost or destroyed by conventional food processing. The proprietary technology covered by several U.S. and international patents is a novel way to preserve bioactivity in colostrum.
Colostrum has had a variety of applications since the 1950s, including use as a dietary supplement for children who may need additional support for their immune systems. With the patented technology, colostrum as a dietary supplement may afford broad spectrum protection and could reinforce natural resistance. Executives at Pharmanex see extensive nutritional applications for people of all ages with this colostrum technology.
"Colostrum has been shown to have numerous positive health benefits for a broad array of consumers," said Steven J. Lund, CEO of Nu Skin Enterprises, parent company of Pharmanex. "We are in business to help improve the quality of people's lives through a variety of means, including marketing products that will help people achieve optimal health. The patents we've acquired represent a platform technology that can continue to elevate Pharmanex's position as a world leader in the research, development and manufacturing of safe and effective nutritional supplements, as well as offer a product shown to support immune function to our consumers."
The technology covered by the patents required 13 years of development to produce a pharmaceutical caliber commodity.
Pharmanex President Joe Chang, views the acquisition of the patents as a natural fit in a product division already taking a pharmaceutical-like approach to the business of nutritional supplements. "The Pharmanex division of Nu Skin Enterprises was founded with the vision of creating safe and efficient dietary supplements by applying science to natural products," he said. "Our goal is to deliver natural products that can be scientifically proven to help people live healthier, more productive lives. We are confident that this colostrum technology will allow us to make one of the most bioactive
standardized colostrum product in the industry."