In November,Aker launched Lysoveta,a delivery platform based on LPC-bound EPA and DHA from krill. The company is exploring the platform’s potential, particularly with how it may affect cognitive and eye health. This IP Licensing agreement is another step forward.
UIC has been researching the ability of LPC-bound EPA and DHA to pass through the blood-brain barrier, the press release explains. Papasani Subbaiah, Professor of medicine, biochemistry, and molecular genetics at the UIC College of Medicine, has demonstrated that LPC is the preferred carrier of EPA and DHA to the brain and eyes.
“The LPC transporter allows EPA and DHA to enter the brain and the retina,” explained Professor Subbaiah in the press release. “We have demonstrated that LPC- bound EPA and DHA from krill oil have a huge beneficial effect on the uptake levels in these organs.”
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Aker will receive an exclusive license to the IP resulting from Professor Subbaiah’s work. He has published three scientific papers in this field in 2020 alone. In return, Aker will take responsibility for supplying the UIC team with LPC-bound EPA and DHA to further their research.“Our partnership with the University of Illinois Chicago marks the first step in establishing a strong network of collaborators within the LPC-bound EPA and DHA field,” said Matts Johansen, CEO, Aker BioMarine, in the press release. “We will continue to explore the potential of LPC-bound EPA and DHA from krill, to gain a broader and in-depth understanding of how LYSOVETA can benefit brain and eye function. There is no better way to kick this off than with a world-leading research team on this subject by our side.”
"It is important to bring our findings into the real world, to test and prove the commercial potential of LPC-bound EPA and DHA in terms of its benefits on human health,” added Hyunjin Kim, Associate Technology Manager at UIC’s Office of Technology Management. “We are excited about this collaboration with Aker BioMarine, a partner whose products are firmly rooted in science.”
