01.01.07
Backed by over 80 years of botanical experience, Indena S.p.A, Milan, Italy, is dedicated to the identification, development and production of active principles derived from plants for use in the pharmaceutical, health food and cosmetics industries. It produces standardized extracts from plants that are traditionally recognized as having therapeutic properties, as well as from plants that have proven pharmacological value.
Indena is an organization that has gained recognition for its strong commitment to research. During the course of its existence, the company has raised phytotherapy to the status of a scientific discipline, while at the same time gaining respect for its expertise in the production of active principles, derivatives, extracts and ingredients, all of botanical origin. One of the areas that the company’s research team concentrates on is exploring antioxidant properties in order to prevent damage caused by free radicals.
Phytochemical research is carried out in Indena’s own research center in Settala, Italy. When Indena researchers identify a new active principle, they design and develop original manufacturing procedures for bulk production. The output is validated in accordance with most stringent quality controls, as well as all international regulatory systems, the company claims. When thorough phytochemical tests have been completed, the pre-clinical and phase I clinical studies are carefully carried out through a network of selected international research centers.
With about 700 employees, including 10% dedicated to full-time research, Indena manages cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution operations in more than 40 countries throughout the world. A plantation network supplies its research and production centers with officinal plants, while also ensuring bio-diversity and protecting the ecosystem balance from uncontrolled harvesting. Today, more than 60% of the raw material used in Indena’s manufacturing process comes from cultivation.
Last year, the company introduced the Indena 30 Quality Campaign, which boasts more than 30 quality controls from starting material to finished product. According to the company, this is the only reliable basis on which the manufacturing process can be established; it also serves as a point of differentiation. The whole process is documented from starting plant material to finished product through a Master Batch Record to ensure consistency of the process and full traceability back to the cultivation and growing stage.
“As a company, we will continue to play the quality card—to promote science-based products to serious companies that place a premium on clinical substantiation,” commented Greg Ris, vice president of sales.
Unfortunately, Mr. Ris notices not everyone in the industry shares the same attitude. “From a botanical perspective there is still too large a segment in our industry that defaults to the lowest price—preferring to lean on an obscure or non-specific method of analysis and then reach for clinical evidence based on a very different extract,” he said. “In addition there are suppliers that continue to pollute our market with fraudulent materials as we’ve seen with saw palmetto, ginkgo, black cohosh and now bilberry. Until there is greater regulatory enforcement or willingness on the part of our industry to truly self-regulate itself, this practice will continue.”
In other developments, Indena recently completed a new extraction facility dedicated to the production of its signature product, Mirtoselect, a standardized ex-tract from bilberry fruits (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) containing 36% anthocyanosides. Pharmacological studies have shown that Mirtoselect is effective in increasing capillary resistance, reducing abnormal vascular permeability and performing antioxidant activity at the vascular level. These findings support application in the treatment of vascular disorders of the retina due to diabetes and hypertension (retinopathy), as well as in the management of symptoms associated with chronic venous insufficiency.
Interest in natural products that contribute to a healthier lifestyle has steadily increased across the globe. And through its commitment to research and investment in the development of new and improved products, Indena intends to continue as a leader in this field for generations to come.—M.Z.
Indena S.p.A.
Viale Ortles, 12
20139 Milan, Italy
Telephone: 39-2-57496-1
Fax: 39-2-57404620
Website: www.indena.com
Indena is an organization that has gained recognition for its strong commitment to research. During the course of its existence, the company has raised phytotherapy to the status of a scientific discipline, while at the same time gaining respect for its expertise in the production of active principles, derivatives, extracts and ingredients, all of botanical origin. One of the areas that the company’s research team concentrates on is exploring antioxidant properties in order to prevent damage caused by free radicals.
Phytochemical research is carried out in Indena’s own research center in Settala, Italy. When Indena researchers identify a new active principle, they design and develop original manufacturing procedures for bulk production. The output is validated in accordance with most stringent quality controls, as well as all international regulatory systems, the company claims. When thorough phytochemical tests have been completed, the pre-clinical and phase I clinical studies are carefully carried out through a network of selected international research centers.
With about 700 employees, including 10% dedicated to full-time research, Indena manages cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution operations in more than 40 countries throughout the world. A plantation network supplies its research and production centers with officinal plants, while also ensuring bio-diversity and protecting the ecosystem balance from uncontrolled harvesting. Today, more than 60% of the raw material used in Indena’s manufacturing process comes from cultivation.
Last year, the company introduced the Indena 30 Quality Campaign, which boasts more than 30 quality controls from starting material to finished product. According to the company, this is the only reliable basis on which the manufacturing process can be established; it also serves as a point of differentiation. The whole process is documented from starting plant material to finished product through a Master Batch Record to ensure consistency of the process and full traceability back to the cultivation and growing stage.
“As a company, we will continue to play the quality card—to promote science-based products to serious companies that place a premium on clinical substantiation,” commented Greg Ris, vice president of sales.
Unfortunately, Mr. Ris notices not everyone in the industry shares the same attitude. “From a botanical perspective there is still too large a segment in our industry that defaults to the lowest price—preferring to lean on an obscure or non-specific method of analysis and then reach for clinical evidence based on a very different extract,” he said. “In addition there are suppliers that continue to pollute our market with fraudulent materials as we’ve seen with saw palmetto, ginkgo, black cohosh and now bilberry. Until there is greater regulatory enforcement or willingness on the part of our industry to truly self-regulate itself, this practice will continue.”
In other developments, Indena recently completed a new extraction facility dedicated to the production of its signature product, Mirtoselect, a standardized ex-tract from bilberry fruits (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) containing 36% anthocyanosides. Pharmacological studies have shown that Mirtoselect is effective in increasing capillary resistance, reducing abnormal vascular permeability and performing antioxidant activity at the vascular level. These findings support application in the treatment of vascular disorders of the retina due to diabetes and hypertension (retinopathy), as well as in the management of symptoms associated with chronic venous insufficiency.
Interest in natural products that contribute to a healthier lifestyle has steadily increased across the globe. And through its commitment to research and investment in the development of new and improved products, Indena intends to continue as a leader in this field for generations to come.—M.Z.
Indena S.p.A.
Viale Ortles, 12
20139 Milan, Italy
Telephone: 39-2-57496-1
Fax: 39-2-57404620
Website: www.indena.com