PepsiCo Funds Senomyxs Research on Salt Flavor Modifiers

SAN DIEGO—Senomyx, Inc., and PepsiCo, Inc., have entered into an agreement to support Senomyx’s Salt Taste Program that is working to identify flavors with modifying properties that will restore the desired salty taste in low-sodium foods.

Under the terms of the agreement, PepsiCo will provide research funding for the Salt Taste Program for 2014 and has options to extend the research funding period. PepsiCo will have non-exclusive rights to salt flavor modifiers discovered during the research funding period. Senomyx also will have the right to supply the flavor ingredients directly to PepsiCo. Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

The agreement comes a month after Senomyx announced its new Sweetmyx flavor ingredient had gained self-affirmed generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status for use as part of a flavor system to maintain the taste in reduced-sugar foods and beverages.

PepsiCo has exclusive rights to use the new flavor worldwide in all non-alcoholic beverages under a collaborative agreement established with Senomyx in August 2010. Firmenich has lifetime rights to commercialize this Sweetmyx flavor for food product categories and alcoholic beverages, with exclusive rights until March 2018.

The GRAS status allows usage of the Sweetmyx flavor ingredient as part of a flavor system in a broad range of non-alcoholic beverages, including carbonated soft drinks, sports drinks, coffee and tea products, and beverage concentrates. Sweetmyx also can be used with alcoholic beverages and a variety of foods, including baked goods, cereals, dairy products, confectionery, snack foods and condiments.