2018Cases

The diversity of the micro-organisms inhabiting the gut – known collectively as the microbiome – is an important foundation for a healthy life, playing a critical role in the development of a robust immune system.

Consumer interest in gut health is on the increase. Probiotics are now taken by growing numbers of health-conscious consumers to support the immune system, digestive health, and even newer areas such as mental health.

Many health conditions, including intestinal disorders and obesity, are characterized by an imbalance in, or impairment to, the microbial colonies that inhabit the gut. Clinical studies suggest that the consumption of probiotics can help balance the microbiome, combating the adverse effects of these conditions.

Our Nutrition business is widely present in the gut health value chain. We make ingredients (such as probiotics, digestive enzymes and vitamins), develop market-ready customized solutions (through our recently acquired and fully integrated probiotic expert BioCare), and deliver end-to-end business-to-business services for owners of consumer brands, from initial concept to finished product.

“We are distributing supplements and medical device products from BioCare,” states Karl Parance, CEO at Laboratoire Immubio. “BioCare has proven to be a highly reliable, supportive and competent partner in all spheres of interaction. Thanks to their profound expertise and innovative capabilities, we have enjoyed very strong growth within the probiotic market.”

At DSM we also own the Culturelle^® and up4^® consumer brands, which form a part of our i-Health division. i-Health – a global consumer health and wellness company and a subsidiary of DSM – develops, markets and distributes branded products that support health and wellness, including digestive health and immunity. Culturelle^® is the world’s number one probiotic brand, trusted for the safe and effective contribution it makes to digestive, immune, and overall health and well-being. Culturelle^® meets the needs of consumers from babies to adults, and is the probiotic most frequently recommended by pediatricians and pharmacists.

PURPOSE LED

Our experience and expertise allow us to develop a wide range of gut health solutions to help microbiome diversity, which is a foundation for a healthy life.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

The market for probiotic products is growing by 7–8% annually. The value-adding inclusion of probiotics in mainstream foods, beverages and nutritional supplements presents attractive opportunities for us as an integrated supplier of ingredients to consumer brands.

Vitamins, nutritional lipids and minerals are essential for human health and well-being. However, most people worldwide do not meet the recommended intake levels. Also, more and more people are being diagnosed with diseases that are largely preventable by a balanced and nutritious diet. In the face of this trend, personalized nutrition offers consumers tailored nutrition and advice that may be more beneficial than mass-produced solutions.

As a trusted authority on nutrition science and a leader in research on the role of micronutrients in human health, we partner with companies that possess the capabilities to create easy-to-use personalized nutrition solutions. In 2018, we entered into several such partnerships. Here we focus on two highlights.

The first is with digital health company Mixfit, creator of the first ever in-home, connected personalized nutrition device to provide consumers with a convenient, tasty, daily beverage customized to their needs. This contains an individually blended mix of our vitamin and mineral Quali^®-Blends. “Consumers need to feel that the solution fits into their lives,” observes Reza Zanjani, CEO of Mixfit. “And it has to show that what they are consuming is improving their health.”

The second is with Macuwell™, a supplier of eye health solutions to opticians in Germany. Eye health education – based on fast, accurate diagnostic measurements – is key to a high-quality consultation. Macuwell™ helps opticians improve eyecare standards by offering Macular Pigment Optical Density testing and providing eye health nutritional supplements and protective eyewear. At DSM, we have a range of ingredients beneficial to eye health. Together with Macuwell™, our Nutrition Academy has developed live training, e-learning videos and tutorials to support opticians.

PURPOSE LED

Our partnerships in personalized nutrition help individuals take responsibility for their health, reducing their exposure to a wide range of non-communicable diseases and helping to lower healthcare costs.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

Various estimates project annual double-digit growth for the personalized nutrition segment. Strong consumer pull and the rapid evolution of enabling technologies are fueling this trend.

As the world’s population grows, global demand for poultry meat is on the increase. With the global population projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, it is anticipated that 470 million tons of meat will need to be produced each year, much of it from broiler chickens.

At the same time, consumers are looking for high-quality, affordable animal protein and sustainably produced food, as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Farmers are therefore seeking ways to increase efficiency while reducing the environmental impact of their operations and also ensuring animal health and welfare.

These challenges require game-changing nutritional solutions. Traditionally, livestock farmers have used interventions including medication that target living bacteria in the gut, either modulating their population or killing them. Our new feed ingredient Balancius™ – the latest innovation from our industry-leading Alliance with Novozymes – takes a different approach by targeting dead bacteria in the gut.

A unique, proprietary, patented technology, Balancius™ is the first and only microbial muramidase (an enzyme that breaks down the bacterial cell wall fragments) to do this. Supplementing the broiler diet with Balancius™ improves digestion and nutrient absorption, thus helping farmers to get more from their feed and also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Together, DSM and Novozymes have developed a solution that contributes to the growth and welfare of animals by removing bacterial cell debris from the chicken’s gut. No other technology works like this,” says Susanne Palsten Buchardt, Vice President at Novozymes for Animal Health & Nutrition Commercial. “It’s a game-changing innovation based on our 20-year Alliance with DSM.”

PURPOSE LED

Adding Balancius™ to the diet of a broiler flock numbering one million birds saves potentially 125,000 kg of feed. Using Balancius™ in all broiler diets across Latin America and North America – the two regions where Balancius™ has been launched to date – could save an estimated 4.2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

Enzymes and eubiotics are key components for sustainable animal production, and this market is expected to grow by 5–7% per year over the next decade.

Fish is an important source of nutrition. Three billion people today rely on marine fish for food. Oily fish – and especially salmon – is also a rich source of the two essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are vital for brain, eye and heart health.

Spiraling demand for seafood and the consequent pressure on overfishing has fueled the growth of fish farms. Aquaculture, however, compounds the burden on wild fish stocks, since 20% of the wild catch is used to make feed for farmed fish and 75% of all fish oil produced is currently fed to farmed fish. In response to a limited, finite availability of fish oil along with soaring demand for seafood, the level of omega-3 EPA and DHA fatty acids in salmon has declined by more than a half over the past decade. This development is not supportive for consumers looking for a healthy food option.

DSM and Evonik have joined forces to create Veramaris^® and developed the technology to produce high-quality omega-3 from the natural marine algae which are part of the marine food chain. Through this technology, we are able to reduce the aquaculture industry’s reliance on the world’s finite fish oil resources for these vital omega-3 fatty acids. Veramaris^® is a sustainable alternative source of omega-3 fatty acids rich in both EPA and DHA. One ton of Veramaris^® algae-based omega-3 oil provides the equivalent amount of omega-3 EPA and DHA to that of 60 tons of wild-caught fish. In June 2018, Veramaris^® held a topping-off ceremony for its new production facility in Blair (Nebraska, USA). While pilot quantities are available now from two sites, commercial quantities of algal oil are scheduled for delivery to customers in 2019.

PURPOSE LED

By including algal oil containing EPA and DHA in fish feed, we help to conserve wild fish stocks and enable the aquaculture industry to grow sustainably.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

The Veramaris^® plant’s initial annual production capacity will meet approximately 15% of the salmon industry’s total current yearly demand for omega-3 EPA and DHA fatty acids.

One of the most significant transformations in the food and beverage sector today is the drive to reduce sugar levels. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that no more than 10% of our total daily calorie intake should come from free sugars in order to reduce the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay.

Obesity increases the risk of several non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to WHO, 1.9 billion adults and nearly 400 million children and adolescents were overweight or obese in 2016, with the number of obese youngsters having increased tenfold in the past 40 years.

In 2018, Cargill and DSM announced a 50:50 joint venture, Avansya, to rise to this challenge. Together, the companies will produce sweet-tasting, zero-calorie sweeteners such as the steviol glycosides Rebaudioside M and Rebaudioside D (Reb M, Reb D). Steviol glycosides occur in the sweettasting leaves of the stevia plant. Avansya’s products will be produced by fermentation, a process using less land, water, and energy than extraction from stevia leaves. The products will be marketed under the brand name EverSweet™. Working together will leverage both companies’ highly complementary strengths to bring sugar reduction solutions to market faster and more effectively.

“The demand for sugar-reduction solutions is urgent, global, and growing fast,” says Chris Simons, Cargill Vice President Food Segment North America. “While consumers are searching out foods and beverages that help meet their dietary needs or goals, brand owners know that great taste can’t be compromised. By partnering with DSM, we can further advance a commercialized Reb M and Reb D product line that offers what consumers desire.”

PURPOSE LED

We are committed to enabling better food for everyone within planetary boundaries. Our ingredients and application know-how help food and beverage companies deliver betterfor- you versions of the products and brands consumers love, with less added sugar.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

The market for high-intensity sweeteners produced by fermentation is expected to exceed € 3 billion by 2025. Avansya is well positioned to secure a significant sales potential in this market.

Many consumers underestimate the power of the sun and are unaware of the protective powers of sunscreens. Moreover, they do not enjoy applying sun cream, nor do they like the feeling of having it on their skin. Consequently, many people in the world today are not receiving adequate sun protection.

Skin cancer rates have been increasing for decades. In the US, for instance, people have a 20% chance of developing skin cancer by the age of 65. In fact, every 53 minutes someone dies from skin cancer in the country.

Two main factors are contributing to the rise in skin cancer. One is that people do not apply sunscreen in sufficient quantities. The other is that they do not use sunscreens as regularly as they should. Skin cancer is preventable, however.

Our unique portfolio of UV filters and sensory modifiers makes it easy for consumers to protect themselves against skin cancer. We offer the industry’s broadest range of UV filters – the active ingredients that prevent UV rays from penetrating the skin and causing damage.

We have unparalleled expertise in formulating UV filters to provide optimum UV protection. Our UV filters go beyond the traditional boundaries of skin protection by tackling the blue light spectrum – a short-wavelength type of light that may accelerate skin aging. We also have the sensory modifiers to make sun products that feel light and pleasant on the skin. We work continually with our customers to create products that make sun protection more appealing as well as more effective, so that they can become part of everyone’s daily routine.

PURPOSE LED

With our unique portfolio of UV filters and sensory modifiers, we aim to make sunscreens more effective and appealing to protect people against the suffering associated with skin cancer.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

The global market for sunscreens was estimated at USD 10.5 billion in 2017. Research indicates that people who use sunscreens apply only a fifth of the recommended amount, meaning that the potential of this market is much greater.

Around the world, dairy and beef cattle are an important source of milk and protein. They are also an essential source of income for farmers and local communities. However, along with its clear nutritional and socio-economic benefits, cattle farming also generates a substantial environmental footprint. In fact, an estimated 14.5% of all human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from livestock, with nearly 65% of this figure originating from dairy and beef cattle.

A large proportion of livestock emissions come from enteric (burped) methane, as a result of the natural digestive processes of cows. Whereas the GHG carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for centuries, methane warms the planet far more quickly. Over a period of 20 years, the global warming potential of methane is an astounding 84 times higher than that of CO₂.

Some years ago, we decided to take the lead in exploring practical solutions for reducing ruminant enteric methane emissions. After extensive research, our scientists came up with the answer. Through our Project Clean Cow, we have developed a proprietary feed supplement (3-NOP) that inhibits the enzyme which is responsible for producing methane in the rumen of the cow. Peer-reviewed studies by independent scientific institutions have shown that 3-NOP has the ability to consistently reduce enteric methane by approximately 30% for dairy and beef cattle, if delivered at the recommended dose.

PURPOSE LED

By helping to reduce the methane impact of cattle farming, we are also helping to solve the global sustainability challenge of how to supply consumers with sufficient animal protein in a way that minimizes harmful emissions.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

Our solution is designed to help the dairy and beef value chain (farmers, cooperatives, brands and retailers) to lower their carbon footprint while also meeting growing consumer demand for sustainable products. In addition to preparing for the market introduction of the feed supplement, we are working with key players and influencers across the value chain to shape a more sustainable, low emission future. The potential market for innovative solutions like 3-NOP is estimated at € 1–2 billion.

The rapid growth and aging of the world’s population and the accompanying increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are continuously driving up healthcare costs. NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS) are consequently a major focus for the innovation efforts of the global pharmaceutical industry. We have a unique portfolio covering the complete range of API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) grade vitamins and lipids, used as API intermediates. This allows our customers to use vitamins and lipids in pharmaceutical products for over-the-counter, prescription, and specialty designations. With more than 70 years of experience in the manufacture of high-quality vitamins, we provide all 13 vitamins approved for use in pharmaceutical applications and are the only company in the world to do so.

In 2018, our biotin (vitamin B7) became the core API for MD1003, also known as Qizenday, a formulation drug candidate of high-dose pharmaceutical-grade biotin for the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Developed by MedDay, Qizenday is currently undergoing evaluation in a large-scale clinical trial. We are the sole approved provider of the pharma-grade biotin for Qizenday.

MedDay is a pioneering global biopharmaceutical company investigating abnormal brain metabolism in order to develop novel therapies addressing neurological diseases. “Our lead candidate, Qizenday (MD 1003) is being developed for treatment of progressive forms of multiple sclerosis,” explains Amine Tahiri, Director Pharmaceutical Affairs at MedDay. “DSM is our key partner for manufacturing the API for Qizenday. We are excited to continue developing our close partnership with DSM, which is helping to bring additional therapies to patients with high unmet medical needs.”

PURPOSE LED

Our vitamin and lipid solutions have an established role as APIs to address emerging therapeutic areas, benefiting global patient health.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

The pharmaceutical market for vitamin and lipid APIs is growing at a rate of 6% per year and is predicted to be worth approximately USD 900 million by 2022.

The omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are the most widely studied nutrients in the world. They provide key lifelong health benefits: DHA is important for the brain and eyes, while DHA and EPA together promote cardiovascular health.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for two thirds of all deaths in the world today. Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are responsible for almost 50% of these.

Despite the proven health benefits of DHA and EPA, 96% of the world’s population currently has insufficient intake of these key nutrients. A daily intake of 250 to 500 milligrams of EPA and DHA for adults has been recommended by many public health organizations.

DHA and EPA occur naturally in oily fish such as tuna, mackerel and salmon. However, the world’s fish stocks are far from sufficient to deliver these nutrients to the world’s growing population. The current supply is only one-sixth of the optimal intake level for the present 7.6 billion population. Although DHA and EPA can be derived from the algae which are the natural diet of oily fish, less than 1% of the current global supply comes from this source.

life’s™OMEGA from DSM is a sustainable algae-based source of EPA and DHA that is nearly twice as potent as fish oil and provides important heart health benefits throughout life. The vegetarian equivalent to fish oil, life’s™OMEGA was the first ingredient to make both EPA and DHA available in a vegetarian capsule, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional fish oil sources.

“Testa Omega-3 has built a leading brand in the global omega-3 supplement business using life’s™OMEGA from DSM to offer consumers a high quality, sustainable and fish-free Omega-3 from algae. Testa and DSM are frontrunners when it comes to offering customers innovative and sustainable products.” says Martin de Vries, Marketing Director, Testa Omega-3.

PURPOSE LED

By making it possible for people to access adequate amounts of the key nutrients DHA and EPA from a sustainable algae-based source, we can help reduce the burden of diet-related NCDs.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

Making the health benefits of omega-3 accessible to this growing market represents a substantial growth opportunity.

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Most of the bulkiest waste items in the world are made of complex combinations of materials glued together so as not to come apart. Mattresses, carpets and furniture, for example, eventually end up in landfill or else have to be incinerated as they cannot be recycled.

Every year, some 4.5 billion square meters of carpeting are wasted. That is enough carpet to wrap a 100-meter-wide strip of it around the equator, every year. Also, more than 50 million mattresses and a vast amount of furniture are wasted. In the US alone, carpeting consumes materials worth USD 6 billion annually. Exploring the potential benefits of re-using these materials to make new carpets was the inspiration behind DSM-Niaga.

Niaga^®, which is ‘again’ spelled backward, focuses on the redesign of everyday products for full recyclability. We develop manufacturing technologies which are based on a maximum of two materials per product and connected with a reversible glue. These high-quality materials have no negative health impact and are designed to be recycled locally.

The purpose-led, circular-economy design thinking behind Niaga^® has produced performance benefits which extend beyond recyclability alone. For example, Mohawk Industries is using Niaga^® Technology to manufacture its hypoallergenic and easy-to-clean Air.0 carpet, while Royal Auping has developed a modular, easy-to-maintain mattress made of Niaga^® for the hospitality industry.

Jan-Joost Bosman, CEO at Royal Auping, comments, “At Auping we create comfortable sleeping solutions for now and the future. We invest in sustainability and have the ambition to organize all our business processes, products and services in a circular manner. DSM is the perfect partner for us to build further on current achievements, based on their material science and drive for innovation.”

PURPOSE LED

Niaga^® is proving the advantages of circular thinking, not only by reducing landfill and energy usage but also by improving consumer health.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

The combined global market for carpets and mattresses is currently worth USD 51 billion. These markets are expanding at compound annual growth rates of 1–2% and 3–4% respectively. Sustainable Niaga^® technology targets the replacement of these products with ones made from fully recyclable materials.

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China produces the vast majority of the world’s shipping containers. These have traditionally been painted with solvent-borne coatings, which release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be harmful.

As a top resin supplier to the waterborne paint market, we joined forces with other coatings players to form a collective called the Waterborne China Platform (WBCP). Chaired by DSM, WBCP’s mission is to help China’s coating industry make the transition to waterborne coatings, which contain up to eight times fewer VOCs than their solvent-borne equivalents.

As a result of this initiative, 99% of containers manufactured in China have been produced using waterborne coatings since April 2017. Annual VOC emissions have fallen by 140 kt since then. By facilitating the adoption of this new technology, we are helping to keep the air clean for people today and generations to come.

Peter Pui, Chairman of WBCP and Regional Director Asia Pacific-Specialty Coatings at DSM, comments, “Container manufacturers in China used to use VOC-containing solvents, which significantly contributed to the country’s air pollution problem. The establishment of the WBCP has enabled stakeholders to acknowledge the negative health effects and climate impact of VOCs and to opt for more sustainable solutions.”

PURPOSE LED

As a global leader in this field, we are helping the Chinese shipping industry to reduce annual VOC emissions by leading the transition to waterborne container coatings.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

Besides their use in the container industry, waterborne coatings have broad application uses in the field of furniture making and window frames. China’s coatings industry is the largest in the world. In 2017 alone, it used more than 13 million tons of coatings, most of which were solventborne, for a wide range of industrial applications.

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Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMS) are continuously looking for smart engine solutions to meet ever stricter automotive emissions standards. Our range of advanced engineering plastics with high heat and abrasion resistance and low friction helps our customers to reduce emissions from cars, combatting climate change while simultaneously complying with emission legislation.

For example, replacing just one metal component (the air intake manifold) with our Stanyl^® Diablo can reduce CO₂ emissions by one gram for every 10 km driven.

This saving increases tenfold when Stanyl^® is used for components to reduce friction in the combustion engine. Using Stanyl^® for this purpose saves one gram CO₂ per km driven. If every new car registered in Europe, traveling on average 15,000 km per year, used Stanyl^®, this would deliver an annual CO₂ emission reduction of approximately 225 kt.

To develop next-generation cars, OEMs have to re-imagine what is possible as two distinct industries converge − automotive and electronics, both of which we serve. Stanyl^® has been specified for a wide range of automotive applications for three decades, while our materials are being used extensively in connections in mobile devices such as smart phones.

“We have applied Stanyl^® HGR2 PA46 in valve timing chain systems, which leads to lower friction, fuel economy savings and a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” says Mr. Baddaria, Chief Engineering from BorgWarner.

PURPOSE LED

With Stanyl^®, we show how product quality and durability can go hand in hand with environmental benefits, making these an integral part of the value proposition.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

Production of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles is growing by approximately 1 to 2% a year globally, while the use of engineering plastics in these vehicles is growing at approximately 5% a year.

We believe that up to 50% of the world’s power could be delivered by solar in 2050. Today, there are still some 1.2 billion people in the world with little or no access to electricity. Emerging new solar materials will be a key factor in ensuring clean and affordable energy for all.

With our solar material innovations, we are helping the industry to move closer to making solar energy accessible to everyone and helping it to boost power gain from photovoltaic (PV) modules and solar parks by lowering the Levelized Cost of Energy.

Our first breakthrough was an anti-reflective coating for solar glass, which squeezes out a 3% power gain compared to non-treated equivalents. This coating is now used in more than 250 million solar panels worldwide. This technology was adapted to include an anti-soiling feature specifically for solar parks in dry, desert climates where sand and dirt are blown onto the solar panels.

Now, our materials innovation strength is being used to create 100% recyclable, fluorine-free backsheets for solar panels that boost power gain even further and reduce carbon footprint by 30% compared to conventional backsheets. India for example, has been investing heavily in PV technology but buying fluorinebased versions that cannot be recycled and will increase end-oflife treatment costs and environmental impact.

We engaged with Indian government agencies to articulate the many advantages of fluorine-free modules over less sustainable alternatives, also demonstrating the recyclability of newer materials. As a consequence, these agencies sharpened their bid for renewable energy projects, removing the requirement for the use of fluorine. Safer and more affordable PV technology has thus become the new norm for India.

“The rapidly growing market for solar energy in India requires affordable and sustainable solar technologies that also offer enhanced product longevity and performance. DSM has the experience and capabilities to deliver these,” says Vinay Rustagi, Managing Director BRIDGE TO INDIA.

PURPOSE LED

The DSM Advanced Solar team has one clear goal: to make clean, solar energy a reality for all.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

To date, our solar materials technology has enabled the generation of some 7,500 GWh of additional power, saving the equivalent of 3,700 kt of CO₂eq. The drive to decarbonize the global power mix will at least double the installed solar PV capacity in the next five years. This will offer attractive opportunities for innovations that lower the cost of solar power and improve the efficiency and recyclability of solar panels.

Societal demand for sustainable farming is growing. Growers are looking for reliable and easy-to-handle products that enable them to introduce biological solutions into their crop protection programs. Meanwhile, consumers are asking for biological rather than synthetic pest control strategies. Nature offers many as yet unexplored models of biologicallybased pest control. To harness this potential, we have entered into an R&D partnership with Syngenta to develop and commercialize sustainable microbial-based solutions for agriculture.

Together, we will accelerate the delivery of a broad spectrum of bio-control solutions. These solutions are based on naturally occurring micro-organisms that can protect crops from pests and diseases, manage resistance, and enhance plant productivity. We contribute our unique leading microbial database, strong screening competence and decades of experience in the scaling and manufacturing of microbial products. Syngenta has specialized know-how in agricultural applications and plant biotechnology alongside global market access and commercial strength.

Our cooperation with Syngenta is making excellent progress to accelerate the development of these solutions. Our innovative new screening, validation, discovery and development platform is up and running and has already tested around 150,000 samples based on our extensive proprietary micro-organism library, generating promising results.

Camilla Corsi, Head of Crop Protection Research at Syngenta, says, “This is a unique partnership where the strengths of both companies are utilized to deliver new solutions for agriculture. Our teams have developed a trusted relationship that is key for success.”

PURPOSE LED

Society is asking for sustainable solutions to safeguard food and nutrition security. Together with Syngenta, we are accelerating the development of sustainable microbial-based solutions for crop protection.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

Currently valued at USD 2 billion annually, the global biocontrol market is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 10%. By 2030, the market for biological solutions could total more than USD 7 billion.

Approximately 1.3 billion people around the world suffer some form of vision impairment. About 80% is considered avoidable.

A key success factor in any eye therapy is the application of the right dosage of medicine in the right place over time. Diseases of the retina (back of the eye) require delivery of medicine via frequent localized needle injections that cause significant discomfort and inconvenience.

We developed an innovative, sustained-release drug delivery solution to address this therapeutic need. Targeting retinal disorders such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), it has shown strong efficacy in preclinical models. A small, injectable, biodegradable polymer fiber is loaded with medicine and injected at a specific location in the eye. The medicine is then released over several months until the fiber degrades. The new treatment is designed to reduce the need for injections in the eye from almost monthly to less than once every four months. Additional fibers can subsequently be injected to ensure continuous therapy.

We have commercialized this solution through a strategic R&D collaboration and license agreement with Aerie Pharmaceuticals. The product is expected to enter human clinical evaluation in 2019.

“This agreement opens up many new opportunities as we continue to innovate with new drugs and technologies to potentially treat many diseases of the eye,” says Dr. Vicente Anido, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Aerie. “This is a platform on which we can build our innovative sustained-release strategies for many ophthalmic diseases, including glaucoma.”

PURPOSE LED

DME is the leading cause of blindness in the diabetic population, while AMD accounts for 8.7% of all blindness worldwide. With our alternative to traditional eye drug delivery systems, we are helping people to live healthier lives.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

The current worldwide market for pharmacological treatment of eye diseases is estimated at USD 17 billion. It is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5–6%, driven by underlying demographics and increased therapy penetration.