DSM Venturing has taken part in a €10 million funding round in Oxford-based Phynova, the producer of the Reducose blood glucose regulation ingredient.
DSM Venturing is the investment arm of Royal DSM, and DSM acted as the cornerstone investor in the funding round.
Reducose is a patent-protected ingredient made from mulberry leaves which can be added to food and drink products at the manufacturing stage or taken as a food supplement.
According to Phynova, Reducose reduces the impact of high-glycaemic sugars – as well as other carbohydrates – on the body to regulate blood glucose levels. The ingredient achieves this by reducing the absorption of sugars and other carbohydrates in meals by up to 40%.
This latest investment builds upon the existing global distribution partnership agreed by DSM and Phynova in March 2019.
Rob Beudeker, investment director at DSM Venturing, will be joining Phynova’s board as a result of this investment.
Robert Miller, CEO of Phynova, said: “DSM is a high-calibre cornerstone investor and it being represented on Phynova’s Board is testament to Phynova’s developing position with its unique, proprietary plant-derived products.
“The interest in science-based natural products for maintaining and improving health already has a significant worldwide market and is set to grow substantially.
“We have had a formal collaboration agreement with DSM since 2018 and now they wish to invest as the company progresses Reducose to commercial success.”
