COLUMBIA, Md., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (Nasdaq: MATK) Martek Biosciences Corporation announced today that it has entered into a multi-year sole-source supply agreement with Hochdorf Nutricare AG for the use of ARA in China and certain parts of Europe.
"We are pleased to be working with Hochdorf, one of Switzerland's leading food companies, to provide optimal nutrition to infants around the world," said Ethan Leonard, vice president of pediatric nutrition for Martek. "This agreement with Hochdorf represents Martek's continued success in expanding its infant formula business beyond the US market."
Naturally present in human breast milk, ARA (arachidonic acid) is a fatty acid important to infant development and growth. Clinical studies have demonstrated numerous benefits, including improved mental and visual development, for infants receiving infant formula supplemented with ARA and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), another fatty acid important to infant development. Martek's blend of DHA and ARA, life'sDHA & life'sARA(TM), is the only source of these nutrients currently used in U.S. infant formula, and is present in more than 95 percent of infant formula sold in the U.S. Additionally, Martek is a leading global supplier of DHA and ARA and infant formulas containing Martek's nutritional oils are available in more than 75 countries worldwide.
One of Switzerland's leading food companies, The Hochdorf Group is headquartered in Hochdorf, Switzerland. It maintains three production facilities and employs a workforce of more than 430. Extracted from natural resources such as milk and wheat germ, Hochdorf products have been contributing to the health and well-being of people of all ages, from babies to senior citizens, since 1895. Customers at home and abroad include the food industry, the retail trade, bakeries and the catering industry. Hochdorf products are available in over 40 countries.
Martek Biosciences Corporation is a leader in the innovation and development of DHA and ARA and has developed patented technology for the production and use of these ingredients. DHA omega-3 products promote health and wellness through every stage of life and ARA omega-6 products support growth and development in infants and children. The company produces life'sDHA(TM), a sustainable vegetarian source of DHA omega-3, for use in foods, beverages, infant formula and supplements, and life'sARA(TM), a sustainable vegetarian source of ARA omega-6, for use in infant formula and growing up milks. For more information on Martek Biosciences, visit http://www.martek.com/. For more information on products containing life'sDHA and life'sARA, visit www.lifesdha.com.
Sections of this release contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon numerous assumptions which Martek cannot control and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. These statements should be understood in light of the risk factors set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007 and other filed reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-K/A, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.
Contact:
Cassie France-Kelly
Public Relations
(443) 542-2116
media@martek.com
Kyle Stults
Investor Relations
(410) 740-0081
investors@martek.com
SOURCE Martek Biosciences Corporation
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