ChromaDex signs agreement with Thorne Research to market Niagen ingredient

Under the three-year agreement, worth $3.5m, Thorne Research will market ChromaDex’s Niagen which is a patented nicotinamide riboside (NR) ingredient.

As per the terms of the agreement, Thorne Research will use the ingredient only in the manufacturing of the nutritional supplements exclusively to be sold directly to healthcare-practitioner channel in the US and Canada.

ChromaDex will in return earn royalty on sales of Thorne Research products with Niagen.

The two companies will also collaborate on the future human clinical trials of Niagen.

Studies on the NR ingredient suggest that it can enhance muscle endurance, protect nerve cells from injury, improve insulin sensitivity, lower serum cholesterol and limit diet-induced obesity.

Thorne Research CEO Paul Jacobson said Niagen is one of the most exciting new ingredients introduced in the nutritional supplement market in the last 10 years.

"We are thrilled to be the first manufacturer in our market sector to be able to incorporate this ingredient, and we plan on having a series of first-to-market products that incorporate Niagen™," Jacobson added.