Natto: NattoPharma participates in research network that receives 2.9 million Euro (28 million NOK) Grant
Will fund further substantiation for MenaQ7 Vitamin K2
Høvik 9th September 2015: NattoPharma participates in an International Research Network, coordinated by Queen Mary University of London, that has been awarded with a 2.9-million Euro grant from European Commission’s research program Horizon 2020-MSCA-ITN. Other partners of the network are four highly ranked research university departments in Europe (University of Maastricht, University College Dublin (part of the national University of Ireland), Ludvig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, and Karolinske Institutet in Stockholm) and the independent life science medical research charity in the UK, the Medical Research Council Technology. The grant NattoPharma participates in is called “EVOLuTION” and stands for “European Vascular Interventions and Therapeutic Innovation Network”. The money will be utilized to train the next generation of entrepreneurial scientists within the scope of “European Vascular Interventions and Therapeutic Innovation”.
According to Horizon 2020, a staggering amount of research program applications were received, and each application was evaluated by a panel of experts within the relevant field of research, with the highest possible score being 100%. The EVOLuTION application received 95.60% of maximum 100%, one of the highest scores for all applications received by the commission.
Since 2004 NattoPharma works in close relation with the Maastricht University in documenting benefits of menaquinone-7, the company’s exclusive vitamin K2 branded as MenaQ7. The Horizon 2020 grant will fund two full-time persons at the Maastricht University for the next 3 years focusing on characterization and documentation of new biological aspects and effects of MenaQ7.
“The Horizon 2020 research grant is one of the most prestigious grants in Europe. The successful grant assignment and the opportunity to allocate highly qualified researchers to further work on vitamin K research is a great recognition of the MenaQ7 platform by this collaboration so far”, says Associate professor Leon Schurgers at CARIM, Maastricht University, the main contact between NattoPharma, the Maastricht University and Horizon 2020. “I have great expectations for potential new and exciting observations that will arise from our mutual efforts; – identifying even more positive health benefits of MenaQ7”.
“The assignment of the Horizon 2020 grant is not only an amazing honor, and as commercial partner serves as a great recognition of NattoPharma and our long-term research strategy. Since 2004 NattoPharma’s first priority has always been the documentation of MenaQ7’s biological effects. The beneficial effects of MenaQ7 on bone and vasculature is what has driven our marketing efforts”, says NattoPharma’s CEO Hogne Vik. “The expected future achievements from this research collaboration and explorations of MenaQ7 in Maastricht and other scientific environments over the next 3 years will enable NattoPharma to strengthen the scientific position. We are eager to secure more biological data that can open up novel user indications, as well as extending our patent portfolio”.
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About MenaQ7®
MenaQ7® is the best documented, commercially available vitamin K2 as MK-7 with guaranteed actives and stability, clinical substantiation, and international patents granted and pending. MenaQ7® is available in two varieties: MK-7 Crystals and MK-7 PURE. For more information on the health benefits of MenaQ7, visit menaq7.com.
About NattoPharma
NattoPharma ASA, based in Norway, is the world’s leader in vitamin K2 research and development. NattoPharma is the exclusive international supplier of MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 as MK-7, and has a multi-year research and development program to substantiate and discover the health benefits of vitamin K2 for applications in the marketplace for functional food and dietary supplements. With a global presence, the company established its North American subsidiary, NattoPharma USA, Inc., in Metuchen, NJ. For more information, visit nattopharma.com.
For more information, please contact:
Hogne Vik, CEO NattoPharma
Cell phone: +47 97 53 53 26
E-mail: hogne.vik@nattopharma.com
Kate Quackenbush, Director of Communications
NattoPharma USA, Inc.
Phone: 609-643-0749
E-mail: kate.quackenbush@nattopharma.com
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