Avesthagen Licenses Vegetarian AvestaDHA

MUMBAIAvesthagen Limited, an integrated systems biology company, announced a non-exclusive license agreement for a 100-percent vegetarian AvestaDHA  for animal feed application.

Docosahexacnoic acid (DHA) is naturally located in a variety of fish oil and marine plankton; the supply is expected to decrease creating a shortage for the growing demands. Industry analysts Frost and Sullivan predict the algal DHA/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) market will surpass $525 million with a growing annual rate of 24 percent. The total global market for products containing DHA exceeds $26 billion. Avesthagen is expected to earn $30 million during the next decade.

"This is one step toward our continuing commitment to discovery and commercialization of science based products that promote health and well-being throughout life," said Villoo Morawala Patell, founder and chairperson of Avesthagen. "AvestDHA will serve as an acceptable and safe source of DHA for the much neglected field of animal health."

Avesthagen's patented and trademarked technology will allow commercial production of 100-percent vegetarian AvestaDHA, derived from microalgae found in the Indian Ocean.

The product is available for human and medical nutrition, animal feed and other applications. "AvestaDHA is targeted at improving the nutritional health of the bottom of the pyramid and Avesthagen invites like-minded government, private organizations and civil society to join in the mission," Patell said.

DHA, a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid, is found throughout the human body and is a major structural component found in the brain grey matter, eye retina and the heart. DHA omega-3 fatty acid is a fundamental nutrient for people of all ages and offers brain, eye and heart benefits. According to Avesthagen, it can reduce nutritional deficiencies faced by the majority of India's population and is particularly effective for overcoming physical and mental stunting common in nutritionally deprived children.

Avesthagen developed AvestaDHA through a grant from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the New Millennium Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI).  The project involved the National Institute of Oceanography, the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad.