NattoPharma’s International Research Network, coordinated by Queen Mary University of London, has been awarded a highly competitive ITN research grant from the European Commission’s research program Horizon 2020. Other partners of the network are four highly ranked research university departments in Europe [University of Maastricht, University College Dublin (part of the national University of Ireland), Ludvig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, and Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm] and the independent life science medical research charity in the U.K., the Medical Research Council Technology. The grant NattoPharma participates in is called “EVOLuTION” (European Vascular Interventions and Therapeutic Innovation Network), and the money will be utilized to provide training for 11 early stage researchers (ESRs) in the management of chronic diseases in the field of cardiovascular disease.

Since 2004, NattoPharma has worked closely with the Maastricht University in documenting benefits of menaquinone-7, the company’s exclusive vitamin K2 branded as MenaQ7. This grant will provide training in innovative therapeutic strategies that include MenaQ7, integrating early detection and prevention, to yield novel approaches to the management of chronic vascular and metabolic diseases that affect the increasing aging population of Western societies.

“The Horizon 2020 research grant is one of the most prestigious grants in Europe. The successful grant assignment and the opportunity to allocate highly qualified researchers to further work on vitamin K research is a great recognition of the vitamin K2 platform by this collaboration so far,” said Associate Professor Leon Schurgers at CARIM, Maastricht University, and the main contact between NattoPharma, the University, and Horizon 2020. “I have great expectations for potential new and exciting observations that will arise from our mutual efforts—identifying even more positive health benefits of menaquinone-7.”

This grant is awarded in addition to 2.9 million Euro that the EVOluTION consortium received in 2015. That application received the highest possible score and is funding two full-time researchers for three years, focusing on characterization and documentation of new biological aspects and effects of menaquinone-7 (as MenaQ7).

“The assignment of this Horizon 2020 grant is an honor that further validates the importance of the work we have been doing with Maastricht University, and shines a light on the impact vitamin K2 can have on improving global health,” said NattoPharma Chief Medical Officer Hogne Vik, adding that NattoPharma’s first priority has always been the documentation of MenaQ7’s biological effects. “The beneficial effects of MenaQ7 on bone and vasculature is what has driven our marketing efforts. Through EVOluTION, NattoPharma will now have access to two full-time PhD-candidates that will be focused on exploring on existing and potential new mechanisms for biological effects and health benefits for menaquinone-7. This is a great opportunity for NattoPharma, and we are eager to see how the expected future achievements from this research collaboration and explorations of MenaQ7 in Maastricht and other scientific environments will enable NattoPharma to strengthen our scientific position with regards to chronic vascular and metabolic diseases. We are further eager to secure more biological data that can open up novel user indications, as well as extending our patent portfolio.”