Uni of Liege backs €1m chitosan cartilage project
The project, Synolyne, will engage in a full spectrum of activity, from research and development to marketing of a product that will seek EU medical devices authorisation for arthrosis treatment via cartilage repair.
The EU medical devices route is one that is familiar to KitoZyme, as it is making weight loss claims for its KiOnutrime-Cs fat-binding chitosan form under that legislation.
Synolyne will work with a gel containing KiOmedine-CsU, a highly purified form of the fungi-sourced nutrient.
Frost & Sullivan estimates that the market for products treating problems like arthrosis – which effects over half of over-65s and is the most serious problem after heart disease in that age group – is worth about $400m (€307m) in the US alone.
Such a product could offer alternatives to joint health staples like paracetamol and glucosamine.
KitoZyme, which has a partnership with Missouri-based Stratum Nutrition on certain nutrients, said in a statement: “KitoZyme received shares in the new company in exchange for its contribution in kind (an intellectual property licence agreement). The company will also receive royalties on future sales of Synolyne and will supply the biomaterial involved in the composition of the medical device, KiOmedine-CsU.”
University participation will include Professor Henrotin, director of the UROC (Bone and Cartilage Research Unit).
