Nutrigenomics Study Paves Way Toward Product Development

WellGen, Inc., New Brunswick, NJ, has completed a study demonstrating that its nutrigenomics technology platform can successfully predict biological activity of natural products in humans. Using a proprietary ingredient standardized for certain theaflavins in black tea, WellGen’s study has proven that the ingredient’s inflammation-fighting properties can be identified and quantified by the company’s technology such that the findings can be effectively and efficiently translated to consumer applications. This recently completed double-blind, randomized human study has confirmed that the WellGen approach of using cell cultures containing specifically targeted genes is highly predictive in determining that a plant or food extract can positively affect the same gene expression profile in humans. WellGen’s proprietary ingredient, WG0401, delivered consistent activity against inflammation across the entire WellGen discovery and development process, which includes cell-based assays, animal testing and human inflammatory biomarker studies. WG0401 also provided protection to healthy volunteers who were given a potent inflammatory challenge. Healthy volunteers treated with the WellGen extract had inflammatory biomarker levels ranging between two- to six-fold less than the placebo group when challenged with an inflammation-inducing bacterial lipopolysaccharide.