Lonza to tap Australian market with larch arabinogalactan approval
According to an updated monograph from the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing, and Therapeutic Goods Administration, larch arabinogalactan is now allowed for use in dietary supplements in the country.
The Department of Health and Ageing and Therapeutic Goods Administration approval has opened up the region’s market for Lonza, which markets larch arabinogalactan for immune health under the brand name ResistAid.
“The updated monograph now specifically includes ResistAid, a proprietary blend which consists of the soluble fibre arabinogalactan and bioacticve polyphenolic flavonoids, both derived from Larch trees,” Dominik Werner, head of corporate communication at Lonza told FoodNavigator-Asia.
According to Werner, the “old” monograph did not allow the import of this specific product. “The updated monograph is valid for both Australia and New Zealand and is limited to dietary supplements.”
Werner said attention aroud the immune category was growing.
“As consumers become more aware of the link between diet and immune function, they seek natural ingredients to further support their diet,” he said.
Sales and marketing activities for ResistAid have already begun in the region, he said.
“ResistAid with its immune-modulating properties offers an interesting differentiation to classical immune ingredients product like Vitamin C, zinc or echinacea,” he said, talking of the products’ strengths that would be stressed on.
Immunomodulatory effect
According to Lonza, ResistAid has been shown to provide an immunomodulatory effect, enhancing the appropriate response to an antigen, as opposed to indiscriminately enhancing other arms of the immune system that would not be expected to respond.
“Also combinations with those other ingredients will be an interesting alternative. According to research, ResistAid provides the ability to selectively call upon both the non-specific, cellular response, as well as adaptive immune response in healthy adults,” he said.
