Study Published in PAIN Reveals Nicotinamide Ribos

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 22, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChromaDex Corporation (NASDAQ: CDXC ) an innovator of proprietary health, wellness and nutritional ingredients that creates science-based solutions for dietary supplement, food and beverage, skin care, sports nutrition, and pharmaceutical products, announced today that University of Iowa researchers have published a study in the prestigious Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain (PAIN) showing that NIAGEN ^® Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) ameliorates chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in an animal model. Results from this study suggest that NR may be an effective therapy in relieving chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in humans.  Access to the study was made available online on February 11, 2017 .

Currently, the American Society for Clinical Oncology considers the development of adjunctive therapy for the prevention and relief of CIPN as essential for patient care. This study provides an important proof of concept for the use of NR as a novel therapeutic approach in filling the unmet need for treatments that alleviate CIPN.

ChromaDex CEO and co-founder, Frank Jaksch, Jr. stated, “This is another well-designed study that reinforces the role of NR in neuronal protection.  These results are particularly important given that this research may contribute to the discovery of a new therapeutic option for a significantly underserved patient population.”

Led by Dr. Donna Hammond, Ph.D., the research team at the University of Iowa demonstrated that treatment with NR increased blood levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) by 50 percent after three weeks of daily administration.  NR was able to prevent the development of tactile hypersensitivity induced by the chemotherapeutic paclitaxel and reverse well-established tactile hypersensitivity, while also blunting escape/avoidance behaviors. Furthermore, the prophylactic effect was sustained for at least two weeks after treatment with NR ceased.

Dr. Marta Hamity, Ph.D., the lead study author, indicated that the team embarked on the study based on evidence that suggested that increasing levels of NAD+ in the cells may protect against neuronal injury. The study used female Sprague-Dawley rats, clinically relevant doses of paclitaxel and incorporated measures that quantify the impact of CIPN on quality of life.

“This is significant because the pain associated with CIPN can increase as the [chemotherapy] dose escalates, and at times it reaches a point where the patient is no longer able to tolerate the effective doses,” explained Hammond. “The American Society of Clinical Oncology has issued a position paper that there is an unmet need for treatments that can alleviate CIPN,” stated Hammond. “This study has provided positive data which is particularly exciting considering the unmet need for therapies in this area. We believe that further development of NR as a therapy for CIPN is warranted.”

NR has been the subject of nearly 200 peer-reviewed journal publications and is currently at the center of over 100 collaborative studies between ChromaDex and leading universities and research institutions around the world such as the National Institute of Aging, MIT and the Scripps Research Institute representing an estimated $40-50 million in NR research.

In November, 2016 ChromaDex announced that it met with FDA to gain Agency guidance on the requirements needed to successfully file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial in patients with Cockayne Syndrome. Jaksch commented, “ChromaDex is working towards completing IND-enabling preclinical studies for Cockayne Syndrome and filing that IND sometime in 2017.”  

ChromaDex, being publicly traded on NASDAQ, gives the public an opportunity for investing in the business of science-based technologies for healthy aging and longevity. To date, ChromaDex has invested millions in safety, toxicology and human clinical trials on NR. Most of ChromaDex’s recent revenue growth has come from its proprietary ingredients, in particular NIAGEN ^® .

ChromaDex’s NIAGEN ^® is the only commercially available form of NR and is supported by five patents issued and several pending, with patents rights acquired from Cornell University, Dartmouth College and Washington University. In addition to human clinical studies, ChromaDex is actively collaborating with numerous leading universities and research institutes studying the health benefits of NIAGEN ^® . For additional information about ChromaDex and NIAGEN ^® , visit  www.Chromadex.com .

Additional research and news about NR and NAD+ can be found at www.AboutNR.com .

About ChromaDex: ChromaDex leverages its complementary business units to discover, acquire, develop and commercialize patented and proprietary ingredient technologies that address the dietary supplement, food, beverage, skin care and pharmaceutical markets. In addition to our ingredient technologies unit, we also have business units focused on natural product fine chemicals (known as "phytochemicals"), chemistry and analytical testing services, and product regulatory and safety consulting (known as Spherix Consulting). As a result of our relationships with leading universities and research institutions, we are able to discover and license early stage, IP-backed ingredient technologies. We then utilize our in-house chemistry, regulatory and safety consulting business units to develop commercially viable ingredients. Our ingredient portfolio is backed with clinical and scientific research, as well as extensive IP protection. Our portfolio of patented ingredient technologies includes  NIAGEN ^®  nicotinamide riboside;  pTeroPure ^®  pterostilbene;  PURENERGY ^® , a caffeine-pTeroPure ^®  co-crystal; IMMULINA ^™ , a spirulina extract; and AnthOrigin™, anthocyanins derived from a domestically-produced, water-extracted purple corn.

To learn more about ChromaDex, please visit  www.ChromaDex.com .

Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements related to results and significance of the NIAGEN ^®  study  and the likelihood that NR will be an effective tool in relieving chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, whether NIAGEN ^® may be used in a therapeutic approach in filling the unmet need for treatments that alleviate CIPN and the likelihood of ChromaDex initiating a Phase I/II clinical trial in patients with Cockayne Syndrome. Statements that are not a description of historical facts constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "potential", "possible", "probable", "believes", "seeks", "may", "will", "should", "could" or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. More detailed information about ChromaDex and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in ChromaDex's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016, ChromaDex's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings submitted by ChromaDex to the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at  www.sec.gov . Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and actual results may differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and ChromaDex undertakes no obligation to revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. ChromaDex provided research materials and a portion of the grant funding as a collaborator for the study.

ChromaDex Public Relations Contact: Breah Ostendorf, Director of Marketing 949-537-4103 breaho@chromadex.com ChromaDex Investor Relations Contact: Andrew Johnson, Director of Investor Relations 949-419-0288 andrewj@chromadex.com