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HerbalEGram: Volume 6, Number 10, October 2009
Metagenics and Alticor’s Joint Venture
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Metagenics, a manufacturer and distributor of science-based medical foods and dietary supplements, and Alticor, an $8 billion global company that specializes in scientific research and product development, announced a new joint venture in September.1
According to Jeff Katke, chairman and CEO of Metagenics, though Alticor has made a “significant investment” in Metagenics, Metagenics will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity, marketing its products to healthcare professionals (e-mail, September 16, 2009). Unlike many joint ventures in which companies in different market channels often market their products into the other partner’s distribution chain, Metagenics will not distribute Alticor’s NutriliteTM brand (sold via the multi-level marketing channel), and Nutrilite will not distribute Metagenics products. However, Alticor will provide financial and strategic support to Metagenics’s mission to develop better ways to address lifestyle-related chronic illness, a goal Metagenics has been working toward for 25 years.
“We’ve been looking for the right partner for a long time and have talked with many potential strategic partners without finding the right fit,” said Katke. “We were fortunate to find in Alticor a company that shares our core values and vision for improving health with natural products.”
According to Jim Weaver, vice president of Alticor Corporate Enterprises, this joint-venture has been in the works since September of 2008 as the companies realized they shared common interests (oral communication, September 24, 2009).
“The companies don’t necessarily have a joint-mission—as both companies will remain independent—but we certainly have a common vision in helping people live healthier, more productive lives,” said Weaver. “Together we hope to realize this common vision sooner, faster, better, and bigger than either company could accomplish alone.”
For Metagenics, a positive aspect of the venture, besides financial support, is access to better ingredients: “Alticor has over 6,000 acres of certified organic farms under cultivation where they grow botanical ingredients,” said Katke. “We believe the partnership will help Metagenics progress on its strategy to use certified organic ingredients whenever possible.” (Alticor owns Trout Lake Farms in Trout Lake, WA, one of the nation’s first and most respected organic herb farms, as well as owning and managing other organic farming units in Southern California, and Central and South America.
Metagenics also has some new products in the development phase which will be released over the next couple of years. Katke explained that Metagenics has “pioneered” the discovery of botanicals known as Selective Kinase Response Modulators (SKRMs): “Kinase signaling is an underlying mechanism that explains how fruits, vegetables, and other botanicals can improve health and conversely how junk food can make you sick,” said Katke.
In humans enzymes called kinases receive signals from the environment (food, plants, stress, toxins) and then translate those signals into messages that regulate gene expression.2 Katke explained that the identification of SKRMs opens up new understanding of the power of plants to improve health as some botanicals can selectively adjust the kinase enzyme system to send messages in favor of good health to the genes.
“This partnership will help us expand our understanding of nutrigenomics[*] and the role of kinase enzyme function in human health,” said Katke.
Alticor is the parent company of Amway Corp., Amway Global/Quixtar, Access Business Group LLC and Alticor Corporate Enterprises.1 This includes the Nutrilite division, the manufacturer of dietary supplements, natural foods, and natural cosmetic products. With headquarters in Ada, Michigan, Alticor and its affiliates offer products, product development, and manufacturing services worldwide.
Metagenics, with headquarters in San Clemente, CA was founded by Katke in 1983. This global life sciences company focuses on reversing chronic illness and improving health.
In 1999 Metagenics merged with HealthComm, a nutrition and medical education company founded by Jeffrey Bland, PhD, a highly prolific and respected nutritional biochemist, author and educator, who currently serves as the chief scientific officer of Metagenics.
*According to the Metagenics website, nutrigenomics is the “‘junction between health, diet, and genomics’”—how nutritive substances and phytochemicals affect genetic expression within human cells.”3
—Kelly Saxton Lindner
References
1. Alticor enters into joint venture agreement with Metagenics [press release.] Ada, MI and San Clemente, CA: Metagenics and Alticor. August 11, 2009.
2. Shelton S. Executive interview: Q&A with Jeff Katke, Co-Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board. Metagenics. NPI Center. September 17, 2007.
3. Nutrigenomics Page. Metagenics website. Available at: http://www.metagenics.com/search/nutrigenomics. Accessed September 23, 2009.
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