The Future of Nutrigenomics: New opportunities in personalized nutrition and food-pharma collaboration

Nutrigenomics explores how nutrients or bioactive dietary compounds can influence gene expression and an individuals risk to certain diseases.  Nutrigenetics is the study of how variations in an individual’s genetic makeup can increase or decrease the need for a specific nutrient or bioactive food component.

Nutrigenomics has the potential to impact various parts of the food chain including the genetic modification of crops and animal feeds, the development of nutrigenomic tests to monitor food safety and personalization of diets, as well as the identification of nutritional supplements and nutrigenomic based products which may offer potential health benefits.
The consumer environment is driving growth in the Nutrition & Health market. Over the past decade, consumers have become more concerned for their health and are increasingly inclined to invest in DTC nutrigenetic tests to assess their risk of disease and obtain dietary advice. Healthcare providers too, are keen to shift some of the burden of healthcare costs to individuals and recognize that the personalization of nutrition may be beneficial. The Health and nutrition market is currently worth around $485 billion.

This report reviews the business strategies of leading companies regarding the adoption of nutrigenomic technologies and establishment of public-private partnerships as well as potential opportunities for biomarker discovery with the pharma and diagnostic industry to personalize nutrition and medicine.

Key features of this report

• Identify leading academic groups and companies at the forefront of the nutrigenomic research who will drive the market towards a more personalized approach to nutrition and disease prevention.
• Assess the nutrigenomic testing market, leading companies and its role in empowering consumers to take a more active role in making dietary decisions and maintaining their health status
• Review the backgrounds, strategies and business models of companies and assess potential opportunities to collaborate with the pharma and diagnostic industry.

Scope of this report

• Identify the companies leading the field in nutrigenomic research from ingredient & food manufacturers to nutrigenomic testing companies
• Review their key products and business alliances which enable them to participate in this evolving field of science
• Identify points of convergence of the pharma, diagnostic and food and drinks markets which may offer new opportunities for co development
• Review market drivers regarding the adoption of nutrigenomic information and the personalization of nutrition.

Key Market Issues

• The food market is changing: Over the past decade, consumers have become more concerned for their health and wellbeing. The roll of the food and drinks industry is changing and shifting towards a more benefit driven and preventative approach. In order to respond to market dynamics the companies have needed to adopt an “open network” model to gain access to innovative research and technologies which will drive future product development.
• Nutrigenomics & pharmacogenomics are related in their approach to identify subpopulations that respond to treatment/nutrition. The application of these technologies may lead to the identification of old and new ingredients that have beneficial effects for specific consumer groups, helping to maintain health and wellness and leading to the personalization of treatment and diets. The scientific evidence is mounting however, large scale clinical studies are needed to reinforce data which can be utilized initially in dietary guidance and latterly to support health claims.
• Nutrigenomic testing marketing is growing and has been fueled by consumer concerns for their health and the demand for genomic information. Increasingly,consumers are inclined to invest in DTC nutrigenomic tests to assess their health status and obtain dietary guidance. This market is currently estimated to be worth US$730 million and growing by 20% per annum.

Key findings from this report

• The food and drinks industry has been undergoing major regulatory changes during the last few years, particularly with respect to health  and dietary claims. Added to this, the adoption and application of nutrigenomic technologies, may provide additional clinical data to substantiate claims and provide new opportunities to develop products which target consumer sub groups. This may require further adjustments in the regulatory framework to stimulate innovation but ensure consumer safety.
• There are significant market opportunities for the development of nutrigenomic tests and products which target consumer groups. Successful products will need to be supported by robust and reproducible clinical studies  - these will cost time and money and will only be feasible through public / private collaborations. The results will enable the manufacturer to clearly differentiate themselves and target specific groups – leading to fragmentation of the market and a shift in he healthcare paradigm from treatment towards prevention.
• Synergies exist between the food and drinks industry and the pharma and diagnostic industry that may create opportunities (e.g. biomarker discover) but also lead to conflicts as the food manufacturers aim to keep consumers healthier for longer forcing pharma to switch to a more preventative strategy by targeting lifestyle disease (e.g. obesity) as their pool of unhealthy ill patients contracts.

Key questions answered

• Which companies are involved in nutrigenomic testing and how may they influence the uptake of personalised nutrition?
• How are Health and Nutrition market leaders applying nutrigenomic research in their R&D programs to develop new products or create new marketing opportunities?
• What potential opportunities exist between the food and drinks industry and the pharma and diagnostic industry to co-develop biomarkers for the development of personalised nutrition and medicine.

Table of Contents

The Future of Nutrigenomics

Executive summary

Defining nutrigenomics

Market drivers

Collaborative nutrigenomic research & consortia

Leading food & drinks companies: nutrigenomic strategies

Leading nutrigenomic testing companies

Opportunities: convergence of pharma & diagnostics

Challenges: regulation, ethical & IP issues

Conclusions

Chapter 1 Defining nutrigenomics

Summary

Introduction

‘Omic technologies

Nutrigenomics and the food & drinks industry

Nutrigenomics & food products

Nutrigenomics & personalized nutrition

Report outline

Chapter 2 Market drivers

Summary

Introduction

Drivers for personalized nutrition

Healthy aging

Consumer demographics

Chronic non-communicable disease

Urbanization and the emerging markets

Global health economics

Conclusions on drivers for personalized nutrition

Chapter 3 Collaborative nutrigenomic research & consortia

Summary

Introduction

Nutrigenomic research consortia

Nutrigenomic research in the EU

The European Nutrigenomics Organization (NuGO)

DiOGenes

TI Food and Nutrition

Vision EpiFood Project

Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

Public-private in age-related diseases

Nutrigenomic research in the US

Public-private partnership: genetically modified crops

Nutrigenomic research across the world

International Society of Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics (ISNN)

Conclusions

Chapter 4 Leading food & drinks companies: nutrigenomic strategies

Summary

Introduction

Ingredients manufacturers approach to nutrigenomics

BASF

Chr Hansen

DSM

Food manufacturers’ approach to nutrigenomics

Group Danone

Nestlé

Unilever

Pharma industry M&A in consumer nutrition

The evolving open network model

Co-development opportunities

Areas for market growth & time scales

Conclusions

Chapter 5 Leading nutrigenomic testing companies

Summary

Introduction

Market leaders

23andme.com

GeneLink

Gene Smart

Genova Diagnostics

Interleukin Genetics Inc

WellGen Inc.

Conclusions

Chapter 6 Opportunities: convergence of pharma & diagnostics

Summary

Introduction

Nutrigenomics vs pharmacogenomics

Global health issues treatment vs prevention

Convergence of the pharmaceutical & diagnostic market

Conclusions

Chapter 7 Challenges: regulation, ethical & IP issues

Summary

Introduction

Regulation of nutrigenomic foods

Europe

Japan

Regulation of nutrigenomic tests

Ethical issues

Public awareness & perceptions

Intellectual Property

Conclusions

Chapter 8 Conclusions

Summary

The food & drinks market

Global genetic testing market

Market trends

Overall conclusions

Appendix

Primary research methodology

Acknowledgments

Glossary

Index

Bibliography

Endnotes

List of Figures

Figure 1.1: Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics

Figure 1.2: The ‘omics technologies

Figure 1.3: The functional genomic tool box

Figure 1.4: Applications of nutrigenomics in the food chain

Figure 2.5: Drivers for the food & drinks industry

Figure 2.6: The ageing population a driver for personalized nutrition

Figure 2.7: Personalized nutrition targeting consumer segments

Figure 2.8: Population over 60: world and developed regions (1950-2050)

Figure 2.9: Nutritional challenges - obesity & metabolic syndrome

Figure 2.10: Growth in consumers in developing & emerging countries (2008-2018)

Figure 2.11: Healthcare expenditure as a share of GDP (2006)

Figure 2.12: Target population of nutrigenomic based products

Figure 4.13: BASF approach to gene discovery

Figure 4.14: DSMs sales growth targeting four emerging business areas

Figure 4.15 DSMs R&D competencies

Figure 4.16 An International and interdisciplinary network

Figure 4.17 Diversify & de-risk through externalization

Figure 4.18 Open network model

Figure 4.19: Waves of nutrigenomic development

Figure 5.20: WellGen’s nutrigenomic based discovery

Figure 6.21: Nutrigenomics vs pharmacogenomics

Figure 6.22: Relationship of drugs, disease, genes and gene products

Figure 8.23: Health and nutrition market segments (2009)

Figure 8.24: Nutrigenomic impact on personalized nutrition

List of Tables

Table 3.1: European Consortia and Nutrigenomic Research Programs

Table 3.2: Nutrigenomics Network Programs

Table 4.3: Stakeholders in nutrigenomic research and personalized nutrition

Table 4.4: Chr Hansen - strategic alliances & investments

Table 4.5: Nestlé nutrigenomic alliances & investments

Table 4.6: Divestment of Animal, Consumer & Medical Nutrition Divisions

Table 4.7: Consumer Health Divisions of Pharmaceutical Companies

Table 4.8: Alliance between Food, Pharma, Biotech and the Diagnostic Industries

Table 5.9: Categorization of genetic variations that may be included in nutrigenomic tests

Table 5.10: Categorization of genetic variations that may be included in nutrigenomic tests

Table 6.11: Known diet- gene interactions

Table 6.12: Known gene-nutrient interactions