Capsugel and Cardax, Inc., a development-stage pharmaceutical company, have formed a collaboration to develop astaxanthin products for the consumer health market. The goal of the collaboration is to commercialize proprietary formulations of nature-identical synthetic astaxanthin products with pharmaceutical-grade purity that will provide improved oral bioavailability compared with other astaxanthin products on the market. Astaxanthin is currently used as a specialized antioxidant.

The astaxanthin products will be jointly developed using Capsugel's proprietary lipid multi-particulate (LMP) technology, which encapsulates dissolved or suspended active ingredients into spherical lipid matrix particles for oral dosage in capsules, sachets, suspensions, or tablets. The LMP technology uses a range of approved lipids to deliver lipid-based formulations in multi-particulate format for improved bioavailability, controlled release, and taste-masking. The companies will seek a strategic partner for retail commercialization in the mass market. Specific business terms were not disclosed.

Cardax, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, focuses on proprietary nature-identical products and related derivatives for diseases where inflammation and oxidative stress are strongly implicated, including, but not limited to, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, dyslipidemia, metabolic disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hepatitis, cognitive decline, macular degeneration, and prostate disease. The initial primary focus of Cardax is its astaxanthin technologies.

Source: Cardax