New product FORTIGEL® honored as an outstanding pioneer development for healthy joints – excellent market chances for applications in nutrition and medicine

A real breakthrough in joint health: GELITA has developed an ingredient - FORTIGEL® - that clearly brings about regeneration of joint cartilage. FORTIGEL® is thus the first food ingredient for the maintenance of healthy joints and the treatment of osteoarthritis. For this excellent pioneer work, GELITA has been awarded the Frost & Sullivan "European Health Ingredient of the Year Award 2008".

“We appreciate this award as a confirmation that our approach of developing real solutions for our customers and end-consumers based on intensive research and proof of concept, is the right one and we feel deeply honored.” says spokesman Michael Teppner from GELITA.

Treatment of root causes instead of relieving symptoms

Wear and tear of joint cartilage leading to osteoarthritis is becoming more and more of a worldwide problem. Millions of people are affected. Current therapies are mainly geared to treating the symptoms of osteoarthritis, e.g. inflamed and painful joints, but these cannot slow down or cure degradation of the cartilage. “FORTIGEL®, however, contains highly purified Bioactive Collagen Peptides® that act prophylactically but also therapeutically”, as indicated in the reasoning for the award. FORTIGEL® is the result of three decades of intensive research by GELITA. "In all, some 13 clinical studies involving several thousand osteoarthritis patients were carried out. Subsequent to several weeks of administration of FORTIGEL®, significant improvement in joint pain and mobility was observed by the patients", according to Michael Teppner. "The mode of action involved in the regeneration of joint collagen has also been established in the meantime: Bioactive Collagen Peptides® stimulate cartilage cells to produce more collagen and proteoglycans. And these two substances alone represent some 90% of the cartilage mass. Just recently, a study has confirmed for the first time in-vivo that cartilage degeneration was stopped."

Unique market position

The outstanding and unique market position of FORTIGEL® is based on the comprehensive clinical data that conclusively prove the effectiveness of the product for joint health. No other ingredient can demonstrate such good pre-clinical and clinical data. In addition, FORTIGEL® is odorless, neutral in taste and free from gluten, purines, tryptophan, fat and cholesterol. It also has no allergenic potential. "FORTIGEL® opens up the market for a whole new range of product formulations for the prevention and treatment of joint disease brought about by overweight, aging and physical activity", underlined Frost & Sullivan analyst Chandrasekhar Shankaar. A further important group that can benefit from FORTIGEL® is hobby and performance athletes. FORTIGEL®-enriched products can supply effective regeneration peptides to their joints. Minor joint defects can thus be catered for before they become serious. In this way, athletes can prevent joint problems occurring. The American Medical Women’s Association reckons that in the USA alone more than 16 million people suffer from osteoarthritis. The Canadian Dimethaid Research estimates some 40 million sufferers in Europe – a very attractive market with enormous potential for products with a scientifically founded health claim.

Frost & Sullivan Health Ingredient Award

Frost & Sullivan consultants and market researchers advise well in excess of 1000 companies, clients and investment groups on a worldwide basis. The "European Health Ingredient of the Year Award" is awarded annually for the exceptional development and market launch of a new ingredient and for the innovative power and new technologies within a company that contribute to such a new product. In selecting the winner, the Frost & Sullivan analysts look at all new launches, taking into account factors such as research and development expenditure, degree of innovation, customer satisfaction, competitive advantages and the significance of the new product within its branch.
www.frost.com

Company information:

GELITA AG is the world's leading manufacturer of gelatine and collagen hydrolysate and maintains production facilities in Europe, North America, South America and the Asian-Pacific Basin. The Group employs some 2800 people worldwide. Beside food applications GELITA supplies its valuable collagenous proteins for Health and Nutrition products, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

For further information please contact:

Michael Teppner
GELITA AG
Corporate Communication/PR
Uferstrasse 7
69412 Eberbach, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)6271 84 2190
Fax: +49 (0)6271 84 2718
michael.teppner@gelita.com
www.GELITA.com