Our story
1989
Gnosis Advanced Biotech established
Gnosis Advanced Biotech - one of the two companies to eventually merge to form Gnosis by Lesaffre - is founded by a group of technicians and scientists to provide a reliable source of scientific and technological services. Based in Italy, Gnosis is a leading manufacturer of active and functional ingredients for the nutrition, cosmetic, personal care, industrial biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
2005
Gnosis Proprietary strain vitaMK7®
Isolated starting from a commercial natto supplied by Mizkan Co., Ltd (Japan). Deposited in the DSMZ Collection under the accession number DSM 17766, Gnosis patents a naturally derived -production process to obtain menaquinone-7 from a proprietary Bacillus subtilis spp natto.
2007
First sales of vitamin K2 in the USA
Gnosis SpA introduces vitamin K2 as MK7® on the market, under the brand name of vitaMK7® to be included in the dietary supplements
2009
Claim bone health (EU / US)
The scientific substantiation of bone health claim in relation to vitamin K was issued by EFSA following the conclusion that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of vitamin K and the "maintenance of normal bone".
2010
Fermentation Process Patent
vitaMK7® obtained the patent granted status for the biofermentation production process of Bacillus subtilis natto cultures, in EU and in the USA [EU Patent No EP 1803820; U.S. Patent No. 7,718,407].
2011
Clinical studies in Humans - K2 in olive oil
The scientific substantiation of bone health claim in relation to vitamin K was issued by EFSA following the conclusion that a cause and effect relationship has been established between the dietary intake of vitamin K and the "maintenance of normal bone".
2012
Pre-clinical study on vitaMK7® and vitamin D in association
Gigante et al. tested the effect of vitamin D3 and vitaMK7® on the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells toward the osteoblastic lineage in an in-vitro published study, showing the modulation of key effectors in mineralization and vascularization, highlight the relevance of co-supplementation strategies.
2014
vitaMK7® entered European Market
vitaMK7® is commercialised in European Market upon “Substantial Equivalence” request to European Commission submitted by Gnosis SpA. The procedure covers both oil and powder formulations.
2015
vitaMK7®, subject of New USP Monograph
A new monograph for vitamin K2 menaquinone-7 (MK-7) - built around vitaMK7® ingredient - become part of The U.S. Pharmacopoeia’s (USP) Dietary Supplements Compendium. Gnosis played key role in the definition of a new USP standard requirement for vitamin K2 as MK-7, working closely with different teams at USP. In the same year, The Australian Health Authority TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) has also recognised the USP Menaquinone-7 monograph for the Australian market.
2018
vitaMK7® increases its production capability with a new fermentation line
This 120 m3 fermenter, based in Pisticci Operations (Italy) strongly wished by Gnosis to satisfy the growing number of customers of our vitamin K2 as MK-7, has increased the fermentative capacity of the plant to 350 m3.
2018
Lesaffre completes full acquisition of Gnosis
By completing the full acquisition of Gnosis, Lesaffre was combining Gnosis and Lesaffre Human Care teams into a single unit to propose a unified range of products and services to its nutritional ingredients and human health customers and partners and to continue its growth in this fast-growing environment.
