ChromaDex to Launch Niagen+, First Pharmaceutical-Grade IV and Injectable Niagen®

ChromaDex Corp. (NASDAQ:CDXC), a leading entity in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) research and its application for healthy aging, has introduced Niagen+. This innovative pharmaceutical-grade Niagen® (nicotinamide riboside chloride or NRC) has been authorized by the U.S. FDA for compounding by 503B outsourcing facilities. Niagen+ will be available in various forms such as intravenous (IV), shot, and push, but only through clinics with a prescription. This marks ChromaDex as the first U.S. company to offer Niagen both as a consumer dietary supplement, known globally as Tru Niagen®, and as an intravenous and injectable pharmaceutical-grade product available exclusively in medical settings.

Rob Fried, CEO of ChromaDex, highlighted the advantages of Niagen IV, noting its faster administration, better tolerability, and quicker elevation of NAD+ levels compared to traditional NAD+ IV. He emphasized that Niagen IV could revolutionize the NAD+ treatment space. The product will debut in select clinics starting in August, with plans for broader distribution nationwide.

Niagen IV is set to tap into the expansive global intravenous hydration therapy market, which was valued at $2.32 billion globally and $1.15 billion in North America in 2022. ChromaDex estimates that the NAD+ IV market alone could be worth over $100 million in North America by 2023.

The first human clinical trial of Niagen IV, recently published as a preprint in MedRxiv, demonstrated promising results. The study found that a 500mg dose of Niagen IV was well-tolerated and resulted in no adverse side effects. When compared to NAD+ IV, Niagen IV provided superior tolerability, required 75% less infusion time, and achieved higher blood NAD+ levels within three hours post-infusion. NAD+ IV, on the other hand, was associated with side effects such as headaches, stomach pain, diarrhea, and nausea, which were not observed with Niagen IV. ChromaDex plans to expand its research with larger participant groups to further substantiate these findings.

Dr. Charles Brenner of the City of Hope and ChromaDex’s Chief Scientific Advisor, praised the Niagen IV formulation for its purity and less stressful administration compared to NAD+ IV. He expressed confidence that Niagen IV would become the gold standard for NAD+ boosting in health treatments and anticipated future research endeavors.

A critical point to note is that oral or intravenous NAD+ supplementation is not the most efficient method for elevating NAD+ levels in cells and tissues. NAD+ is a large, phosphorylated molecule that cannot easily pass through cell membranes and needs to be broken down into other NAD+ precursors first. Studies suggest that intact NAD+ may trigger an acute immune inflammatory response, leading to the uncomfortable side effects associated with NAD+ IV and injection. Unlike NAD+ itself, nicotinamide riboside (NR) crosses cell membranes more efficiently and requires fewer steps to convert into NAD+, making it a more effective means of boosting NAD+ levels.

Dr. Bal Nandra, Founder and Medical Director at IV Solution and Ketamine Centers of Chicago, expressed optimism about the potential of Niagen IV to support healthspan and serve as an option for individuals dealing with health-related conditions.

ChromaDex holds a robust portfolio of over 80 patents protecting Niagen and other NAD+ precursors. The company is committed to safeguarding its intellectual property and continuing to innovate in the NAD+ space.

The introduction of Niagen+ represents a significant advancement in NAD+ therapy, offering a more efficient, tolerable, and faster-acting alternative to existing NAD+ IV treatments. With its upcoming availability in clinics and the promising results from initial clinical trials, Niagen+ is poised to set a new benchmark in the field of NAD+ supplementation.