End game was the start point for sleep enhancing drink
By Peter Kerr for sticK
(sticK - 11 Feb. 2011 ) Before Somnaceutics Ltd., the original developer of a milk-based sleep enhancer, carried out clinical trials in 2007, its founding scientists looked at a whole group of milk peptides and their bioactive properties.
"We didn't initially set out to identify a sleep product," says Guy Wills, former chief executive of Somnaceutics, the original commercialising entity, which late last year was acquired by health and wellness products manufacturer New Image Group. "The sleep product was a consequence of work we did when we found that if we carried out an enrichment process, the product had a calming effect."
This was validated by clinical and market trials, and the decision was made to scale up production.
"The beauty of the product and process is that it is natural, and no more demanding than established milk pasteurisation," he says. "It was something we could introduce into standard dairy processing environments."
For sticK – science, technology, innovation & commercialisation KNOWLEDGE - is a new Wellington based news service concentrating on following the money from ideas to income. Contact editor Peter Kerr at peter.kerr055 @ gmail.com