Provexis plc - a University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health spinout company marketing globally a food ingredient for vascular health through blood platelet inhibition

Description of impact

A discovery that a tomato extract could help with healthy blood flow has been translated into a functional food ingredient now marketed globally via the spin-out company Provexis plc. Fruitflow® — Provexis' lead product — is the result of findings by researchers at the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, now part of the University of Aberdeen, that biologically active constituents in tomatoes inhibit blood platelet aggregation: a known cause of heart attack, stroke and venous thrombosis. In 2009 Fruitflow® was the first food ingredient to meet the requirements of the European Food Safety Agency for products with a specific health claim. Provexis — the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute spinout — is listed on the AIM market — the London Stock Exchange's international market for smaller growing companies — has seen values of £14 - £60 million and secured co-development agreements with major international partners, including DSM, Unilever and Coca-Cola. This case study demonstrates the direct translation of research to produce a functional food ingredient of interest to global market players.

The claimed impact therefore relates to development of new product, which has received the first ever novel health claim (Article 13.5) from the European Food Safety Authority, and is being marketed as novel food ingredient globally by a multinational company.

Impact status	Impact Completed (Open)