Conagen launches fermentation-derived vitamin K2

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Conagen (Bedford, MA), a company that produces ingredients using proprietary precision fermentation and enzymatic bioconversion processes, is introducing a fermentation-derived vitamin K2 menaquinone-7 (MK-7) ingredient. Using its fermentation process, the company says it can produce any long-chain menaquinone, including 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Conagen’s high-purity, all-trans vitamin K2 MK-7 ingredient “is the first molecule from a proprietary platform for producing novel, pure, long-chain menaquinone forms of the vitamin,” the company’s press release states. Producing the ingredient in this way also provides companies with lower-cost manufacturing, Conagen states.

“Conagen’s MK-7 technology produces a clean profile of the vitamin without other similar molecules, such as ubiquinone,” said Casey Lippmeier, PhD, Conagen’s senior vice president of innovation, in a press release. “Our process allows us to make pure forms of any long-chain menaquinone, be it 6, 7, 8, 9, and these can be consumed in various combinations with other vitamins or with each other to make the most effective supplement possible. As the clinical evidence evolves, so can the supplement.”

Vitamin K2 is already a popular ingredient for supporting bone and heart health. MK-7 is known to be a more bioavailable form of vitamin K2, while MK-4 is also popular in the market. Conagen adds that research is growing on other vitamin K2 forms, such as MK-8 and MK-9, which are naturally found in cheeses.

Conagen says it developed its MK-7 production process over three years with Professor Anthony Sinskey at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Conagen’s pipeline partner Blue California will sell Conagen’s vitamin K2 MK-7 and MK-4 ingredients. Conagen’s fermentation and bioconversion processes are also used to produce other ingredients such as its ErgoActive L-ergothioneine and its Taxifolin BC DHQ ingredients.