Indena partners with Gum Base Co. in delivering the science of nature through a next generation chewing gum technology

Milan, October 15th 2008 - Gum Base Co.'s (Perfetti Van Melle group) debut at the SupplySide West is painted in green. Thanks to the cooperation with Indena, the world's leading company in botanical derivatives, Gum Base Co. will offer a preview of an innovative chewing gum providing the beneficial effects of some of Indena's well-known extracts: Opextan^®, Mirtoselect^®, Leucoselect^®, Ginselect^® and Immunoselect^® among others. The product brings together the core competencies of two leaders and has been developed to target the U.S. supplements market.
The extracts delivered with the chewing gum will offer the beneficial properties associated with the single extracts.

Opextan^® is a patented olive fruit extract proven to have remarkable antioxidant and skin protective capability for healthy, beautiful skin.
Mirtoselect^® is a standardized bilberry extract containing 36% anthocyanins obtained exclusively from Vaccinium myrtillus L. fresh fruits which has been clinically tested and proven effective in the treatment of peripheral circulatory and ophthalmic disorders. Furthermore, anthocyanins are today among the most investigated compounds for their role in cancer prevention.
Leucoselect^® is a grape seed extract specifically developed for cardiovascular protection with a remarkable content of Polyphenols, a key element of the Mediterranean diet.
Ginselect^® is a standardized ginseng extract that is widely used for its tonic and adaptogen properties.
Finally, Immunoselect^® is a standardized Echinacea angustifolia DC. extract traditionally used as immunomodulator.

The Compressed Powder Gum (CPG) is a new unique technology using a "cold" and "dry" process to make fortified chewing-gum tablets, which does not destroy the active principles added to the gum, offering a new drug delivery system together with the beneficial oral effects of a traditional chewing-gum.

According to Christian Artaria, Indena"s Marketing Director, "We're extremely pleased to be working with Gum Base Co. in offering U.S. supplement companies a new delivery form for our extracts. A common question we receive from manufacturers as well as consumers is offering our extracts in novel, convenient ways. This partnership addresses this need." 
Gum Base Co.'s Commercial Director, Matteo Villa, considers this partnership with Indena the ultimate solution to add high quality herbal-active ingredients to a unique quality chewing gum, resulting in a convenient and effective Drug Delivery System.


GUM BASE CO. PROFILE:
Gum Base Co. is one of the world's leading producers of gum bases and compressed powder gums for use in the confectionery, health food and pharmaceutical industry.
Continuous research, constant innovation and in-depth knowledge of the gum base properties are the foundations to pledge the best solutions to the confectionery industry and new alternatives for the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical field, in total respect of ethical principles and a tenable growth. 
The company was established as the strategic production unit of gum base of Perfetti Van Melle group, one of the world?s leading producers of chewing-gums, candies and lollipops.
Corporate headquarters is in Lainate, (Milan) Italy. Several production sites and commercial branches are spotted throughout the world to locally adapt the global corporate concepts, supported by 15,000 international employees. Compressed powder gum tablets are produced at the Italian plant in Lainate.

Further Information on Gum Base Co.:
www.gumbase.com 
Gum Base Co. Press Contacts
Elena Dozzi elena.dozzi@gumbase.com 
Tel.+39 02 931721

INDENA PROFILE:
Indena is the world's leading company dedicated to the identification, development and production of active principles derived from plants, for use in the pharmaceutical, health food and cosmetics industries. The key to Indena's success is its research, covering: the screening of medicinal plants for their pharmacological benefits, the identification of new active principles and the development of extraction and purification systems at the cutting-edge of industrial application. Backed up by over 80 years of botanical experience, the phyto-chemical research is carried out in Indena's own Settala Research Center, near Milan. Indena also co-operates with the world's most prestigious universities and private research institutions in the biological assessment of safety and effectiveness up to clinical phase I. The company has more than 150 primary patents and has published around 700 scientific studies. Indena, with more than 700 employees, including 10% dedicated to full-time research, manages cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution operations in more than 40 countries. Headquartered in Milan, Indenahas5 production sites and 5 international branches throughout the world. The Company's experts communicate and interact constantly with the major international regulatory authorities such as WHO, EMEA, and ESCOP, and work with all the main pharmacopoeias.

Further Information on Indena:
www.indena.com
Indena Press Contacts
Cohn & Wolfe Milan
Laura Faravelli laura_faravelli@cohnwolfe.com
Lorenzo Petracco lorenzo_petracco@cohnwolfe.com
Tel. +39 02 202391