Australia OKs NKO®

LAVAL, QuebecAustralias Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) notified Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. that Neptune Krill Oil (NKO®) was approved as a complementary medicine, allowing immediate commercialization in Australia and New Zealand, which automatically allows TGA-approved products.

The Department of Health and Aging of the TGA has accepted and registered, in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, Neptune Krill Oil under the Australian Approved Biological Name Euphausia superba oil. In addition, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service granted a permit to import quarantine material of NKO.

In Australia and New Zealand, complementary medicines are classified as a subset of over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals, said Tina Sampalis, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer (NeptuneBiotech.com). Considering the very tight regulatory control by the TGA, obtaining complementary medicine approval and the quarantine permit constitute a major breakthrough for Neptune in Australia and New Zealand.

The company said it plans to seek a strategic alliance with a local partner in Australia to commercialize the ingredient to the pharmacy and health care channels.