San Clemente, CA (August 19, 2010) —Metagenics, Inc., a San Clemente, California-based life sciences company, today announced its acquisition of Catalina Lifesciences, Inc., the Irvine, California-based maker of Bariatric Advantage®. Bariatric Advantage is the market leader in the development of micronutrient replacements for weight loss surgical patients. Metagenics is a leading researcher, manufacturer, and distributor of medical foods and nutritional products used in lifestyle therapy programs sold to healthcare professionals to manage their patients’ chronic illnesses and achieve their genetic potential through nutrition.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
“Strategic acquisitions are an important part of our growth plans and Bariatric Advantage is a perfect fit for Metagenics. This acquisition extends our therapeutic nutrition and lifestyle programs as solutions for chronic illnesses,” stated Fred Howard, CEO of Metagenics. “Working together, Metagenics and Bariatric Advantage will shape the market in the rapidly growing bariatric nutrition field. We will continue to invest in scientific validation, new product development and distribution to support these programs.”
“Metagenics is an excellent partner for us,” said Thomas Kinder, President and CEO of Catalina Lifesciences. “Both companies have built superior quality and science into our product lines and services, and have been the innovators in our respective spaces. The additional resources provided by Metagenics’ research, business systems, and global presence will expand our ability to bring the advantages of our products to a much broader audience of bariatric patients and healthcare professionals worldwide.”
The products and services of the two companies together span the continuum of health – from prevention and wellness through chronic illnesses through lifelong solutions for individuals who undergo weight loss surgery.
Currently, ten million people in the United States have a body mass index (BMI) measurement of 35 or higher and co-morbid health conditions that make them candidates for weight loss surgery. Each year, approximately 230,000 individuals have weight loss surgery in the United States alone. Bariatric Advantage products provide these individuals with easily absorbable nutrients to promote long-term good health following their surgery. Each Bariatric Advantage product meets Metagenics’ strictest manufacturing standards and is formulated to promote ease of absorption, good taste and long-term patient compliance.
“Catalina Lifesciences will operate as a strategic business unit of Metagenics, retaining its executive leadership, name, products, brand and employee base, while benefiting from the many resources within Metagenics,” said Howard.
About Metagenics, Inc.
Metagenics, Inc. (www.metagenics.com) headquartered in San Clemente, CA, is a global life sciences company focused on reversing chronic illnesses and improving health. Metagenics supports healthcare practitioners in incorporating lifestyle medicine into their practices, offering education and practice management programs such as FirstLine Therapy® to assist them in this transition. More than 75,000 healthcare professionals in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America, South Africa and Asia use Metagenics’ products to help their patients achieve a lifetime of good health. Founded in 1983, the company currently holds more than 40 proprietary formula patents. Today, Metagenics continues its leadership role by successfully merging nutritional genomics, functional medicine, and lifestyle medicine to develop solutions to society’s most pressing health concerns. In August, 2009, Metagenics entered into a joint venture with Alticor (www.alticor.com), a global leader in the nutrition and wellness industry. Alticor is an $8 billion corporation offering products, business opportunities, product development, manufacturing and logistic services in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide. Both Metagenics and Alticor share a philosophy for promoting good nutrition, healthy living and natural science.
About Bariatric Advantage
Bariatric Advantage (www.bariatricadvantage.com) is the market leader in providing micronutrient support to patients who have experienced weight loss surgery. The company works with bariatric surgeons and allied healthcare professionals throughout the United States and abroad, who in turn refer their patients to Bariatric Advantage for long-term nutritional product support services and education. The Bariatric Advantage executive management team is internationally recognized for its role in shaping and guiding the development of targeted nutrition and providing education in this rapidly growing medical specialty.