Swisse Brand product using Aker BioMarine’s Superba Boost Krill oil is now an “assessed listed” medicine in Australia for knee osteoarthritis claims

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Aker BioMarine (Oslo, Norway) has announced that the brand Swisse, which uses Aker’s Superba Boost Krill Oil in its Ultiboost High Strength Krill Oil product, has been included on the Australia Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) as an “assessed listed” medicine (AUST L(A) 417392) with two specific indications:

• Decrease/reduce/relieve knee pain and stiffness in mild to moderate osteoarthritis
• Increase knee physical function in mild to moderate osteoarthritis

According to a press release from Aker BioMarine, the “assessed listed” medicine status of the product indicates that it has been reviewed to assess the efficacy of its health claims prior being officially added to Australia’s register for medicines. The listing allows Swisse to add health benefit information to the labels of its Ultiboost High Strength Krill Oil as well as consumer advertising. The specific indications listed above are exclusive to Swisse for the next five years.

“With this milestone, the Swisse Superba Boost Krill oil product will carry the unique identifier on the label, giving consumers clear indication that the product claims have been evaluated against the evidence provided and considered fit for purpose,” explained Line Johnsen, senior vice president of Human Health & Nutrition R&D at Aker BioMarine, in a press release. “This study came after decade’s worth of scientific research focused on uncovering the full potential of krill and is a testimony to the unique nature and effectiveness of Aker BioMarine’s Antarctic krill oil ingredient.”

The study in question is a clinical trial sponsored by H&H Research, the research arm if Swisse’s parent company, H&H group. Executed under the supervision of Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, the trial evaluated 235 adults between the ages of 40 and 65 who were clinically diagnosed with mild to moderate knee pain. Superba was able to significantly reduce pain as well as help improve stiffness and physical function in subjects. This study is important because high quality scientific research is a prerequisite for a “TGA assessed” claim on the label.

"It is great to see companies like Swisse Wellness securing access to this regulatory pathway. It is a recognition of their ongoing commitment to research to enable new innovative products,” stated John O’Doherty, chief executive officer, Complementary Medicines Australia. “It means more specific evidence-based information for consumers and highlights the benefits of complementary medicines. It also demonstrates that Australia is a world leader in the research and development of complementary medicines.”