Further investment announced at Supreme Biotechnologies

Further investment announced at Supreme Biotechnologies’ official opening

Supreme Biotechnologies’ CEO Tony Dowd today (Tuesday 1st October) announced additional private investment of $500,000 in the company’s Astaxanthin growing facility.

The announcement was made at the facility’s official opening in the presence of Hon Steven Joyce, Minister for Science and Innovation.

The Minister was taken on a tour of the state-of-the art facility by Tony Dowd and natural health consultant Dr Bob Corish. Joining them was MP for Nelson Hon Dr Nick Smith and Jo Rainey, New Zealand Customer Manager NZTE.

At the official opening following the tour, Tony Dowd told the guests the company is a Callaghan Innovation funding success story.

“Government funding helped start our journey to become a global biotechnology business,” Dowd says. “We are extremely grateful for this initial funding, which has enabled us to attract almost $3.5 million in private funding towards our growth. We are also grateful for the continual support we receive from NZTE, which for example, assisted our travel to the Nutrition Capital Network's Spring 2013 Investor Meeting in New York last April, enabling us to get in front of key people in the US. “We have been producing AstaSupreme™ Astaxanthin commercially now for more than two years,” he says. “Our time has now come. We are out of our initial R & D and pilot phases and are now a sustainable commercial business focused on value-add R & D and global distribution. Together, government and private support and investment helps secure our future.

“This year we have actively sought $1.2 million of private investment,” he says. “So far we have raised $500,000, and we are having positive talks with parties interested in providing the balance. “A significant amount from the latest round has come from Auckland-based Dr Ray Thomson, Chairman of Manuka Health,” he says. “Dr Thomson first met us three years ago when he was in Nelson at a natural health product conference. He visited us again this year and was impressed with our operation and how much product we are now distributing, so agreed to become an investor. He also joins our Board today, and we thrilled to have someone of his experience working with us. His investment will go towards earmarked capital items and product development, and will help us further develop our international distribution systems.”

Supreme Biotechnologies makes the highly potent AstaSupreme™ Astaxanthin. It is sold in the UK, Europe, America and South East Asia as well as nationwide pharmacies and health food stores, such as Health 2000 and O2B Healthy. The company currently employs 10 people. - ends - 2 About AstaSupreme™ AstaSupreme™ Astaxanthin is the King of antioxidants. It is made from natural Astaxanthin, the most powerful antioxidant known. This New Zealand natural Astaxanthin is extracted from algae grown by Supreme Biotechnologies Ltd, in a proprietary indoor process.

The extraction itself is done by Nelson-based Nutrizeal Ltd, a world leader in super critical CO2 extraction. About Supreme Biotechnologies Supreme Biotechnologies is a privately held company based in Nelson specialising in the production of bioactive compounds derived from micro-algae. Our algae growing ability, matched with the capability of our world-class research and extraction partners, ensures that we can quickly commercialise new bio-actives.

The company has developed a photobioreactor system that enables economical and quick scale-up from the pilot stage to commercial production of the algae from which the targeted high value products are extracted.

ends

© Scoop Media