A Roche scientist received an innovation award yesterday for developing an environmentally friendly process to produce genistein in a very pure form. The new process has been filed for patent and will be implemented by the Swiss group next year.
Genistein, which belongs to the isoflavone family, is naturally present in soy products such as soybeans, tofu or soyflour. The substance has health benefits related to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, menopausal symptoms and especially osteoporosis.
The new production process, developed by Roche Vitamins and Fine Chemicals scientist Dr August Rüttimann, was deemed the best internal innovation of the year. It will be implemented in Roche's Sisseln facility in Switzerland, producing pure genistein for applications in the food and dietary supplement industries in 2004.
Roche claims the division invested SF125 million in research and development In 2002. The Vitamins and Fine Chemicals unit has been sold to the Netherlands-based DSM group, but final approval is expected to take some time, as the European Commission launched further investigations into the deal this week.