GILBERT, AZ--(Marketwired - September 17, 2013) - Heliae, a leader in the development of advanced algae production technologies, today announced a strategic partnership with Triton Health and Nutrition, a division of Triton Algae Innovations. The partnership brings together two leading algae companies with expertise in both algae biology and commercial algae production. In addition, Heliae has purchased a minority share of Triton as part of the strategic partnership.
This initial Heliae-Triton development partnership is focused on the production of Mammary Associated Amyloid (MAA), the first in Triton's PhycoShield™ product line. MAA is a protein found in the colostrum of mammals that stimulates production of a mucus coating in the digestive tract. This mucus coating prevents colonization of pathogenic bacteria that would otherwise result in the onset of diarrheal diseases. Triton's MAA has the potential to reduce diarrheal diseases worldwide, which kill approximately 20% of the world's livestock each year, as well as account for over two million human deaths each year, and are the leading cause of infant mortality in developing countries. Triton's MAA is expected to be commercially available in 2014.
Triton's proprietary MAA algae will be produced using Heliae's Volaris™ advanced algae technology platform. Heliae's Volaris platform is uniquely equipped to support Triton's proprietary strains. Volaris combines the best of existing algae production models to produce high-value products with lower capital costs, optimized productivity, and increased product optionality. As the partnership progresses, Heliae and Triton aim to deploy an extensive pipeline of Triton's advanced algae strains using Volaris. Triton is capable of producing complex proteins, enzymes, and other biologics in algae suitable for diverse applications across multiple industries. Triton's pipeline includes antibacterials, anti-diarrheals, vaccines, antioxidants, catalytic enzymes, and growth factors for use in human and animal health, nutrition, and cosmetics.
Triton's team brings an unprecedented level of expertise in advanced algal biology. Triton was founded by algae biotechnology pioneers Dr. Jason Pyle and Dr. Stephen Mayfield, who also founded Sapphire Energy, a leading algae biofuels company.
Heliae, led by veteran technology entrepreneur Dan Simon, has assembled a multidisciplinary team of experts with decades of experience and a track record of success in commercializing innovative technology. With the recent announcement of the launch of Heliae's Volaris™ algae production platform, the company is poised to commercialize algae products in a range of industries. Heliae is in the final stages of construction of its first commercial plant in Gilbert, Ariz., and will begin delivering nutraceutical products to customers later this year.
"Drs. Pyle and Mayfield's roles in advancing algae technology through molecular biology are well-known throughout the industry," said Dan Simon, CEO of Heliae. "Triton's synthetic biology platform is the perfect complement to Heliae's flexible Volaris production platform, which can produce a portfolio of economically viable products from multiple algae strains. The link between our companies represents a breakout opportunity for the algae industry and is a key milestone for the next generation of algae products. Heliae and Triton will change the way the industry approaches product development."
"Over the past five years, Heliae has quietly perfected their Volaris platform and their march to commercialization has been impressive," said Dr. Pyle, CEO of Triton. "Triton is excited to utilize Heliae's technology platform and scale-up expertise to produce Triton's enhanced algae, and to help grow our product pipeline. There are thousands of potential applications for our technologies in therapeutics, nutrition, medicine, and cosmetics. This partnership will accelerate the path to market for Triton's products, and provide a strong and lasting alliance as both companies expand product offerings to worldwide markets."
About Heliae
Heliae® is a platform technology company that uses sunlight and low-cost carbon feedstocks to produce high-value products from algae. Based in Gilbert, Ariz., Heliae is leveraging its core production technology into four target markets: nutrition, therapeutics, health & beauty and agrosciences. With a seasoned management team and world-class science, Heliae is advancing the future of the algae industry by delivering novel algae-based products to dynamic markets around the world. www.heliae.com
About Triton Health and Nutrition:
Headquartered in San Diego, Triton Algae Innovations has created the world's foremost algal platform for producing high value proteins and other biologics. Triton's cutting edge PhycoLogix™ technology is quickly bringing algae to the forefront of protein production. Proteins produced through the PhycoLogix™ process will be used in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and human and animal health and nutrition products, such as antibacterials, vaccines, hormones, and antioxidants. Triton's first product, Mammary Associated Amyloid (MAA), is a mammalian colostrum protein with high value in addressing intestinal diseases in pets, livestock, and humans. MAA will be commercially available in 2014. For more information, please visit www.tritonai.com.
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