Driven by a mission to provide innovative medical nutrition products to the global market, Dutch Medical Food BV will focus on universal accessibility. In an effort to promote greater accessibility, the company will make its products available through physicians and over-the-counter. Dutch Medical Food will manufacture its products in FDA, EC and TGA compliant facilities. 
 
The global medical foods market size was valued at $18.4 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach a CAGR of 6.3% over the forecast period, according to Grand View Research, in a report published in February 2020. A rise in the geriatric population, increased incidences of chronic (and acute) diseases such as sarcopenia, diabetes and cancer, and a greater awareness regarding clinical nutrition among patients and healthcare professionals, are some of the factors driving the market.
 
In addition, the consumer shift toward adopting healthy alternatives in their daily routines due to the increasing cost of medical services has also driven demand for medical foods. Due to the adverse effects of various chronic and acute diseases, patients suffer from nutrient deficiencies. Medical foods are used to address these nutrient deficiencies. As a result, their demand is increasing with the drive to manage chronic and acute health conditions. 
 
There are a small handful of companies that account for the majority of the revenue in the medical foods market. Smaller companies in the sector, like Dutch Medical Food, show great potential. New entrants to the market will help to diversify product offerings, as well. Dr. Rolf Smeets and Dr. Guru Ramanathan, co-founders of Dutch Medical Food, launched the company with the goal of product and market diversification, as well as making high quality products accessible to a broader segment of the market.
 
“I’m extremely proud to be a part of this adventure,” said Smeets. “Despite the strong scientific evidence that medical foods play a crucial role in the dietary management of patients, there are many individuals globally that simply can’t afford these products. We believe that every individual should have access to high quality healthcare. It is a privilege to work with my colleagues and healthcare providers across the world to improve the access to medical foods”. Smeets is a former executive of Danone’s medical food division. He is recognized as an industry expert in the medical nutrition and functional foods markets.
 
“We’re excited to design and develop medical foods products based on the famed Dutch quality heritage that many patients around the world have come to rely upon,” said Ramanathan. “We believe that quality is a birthright of our patients, so we don’t necessarily view it as a competitive advantage. Our goal is to design, develop and deliver products that meet the needs of different types of patients or diseases for the diverse geographies where they live.” Ramanathan is a former executive of General Nutrition Centers and Nutricia. He is recognized globally as an expert in healthcare innovation management.