U.K.-based Provexis, a developer of functional and medical foods, has entered into a long-term collaboration agreement with Unilever, London, U.K., to develop a new format of its patented Fruitflow heart health technology for application in Unilever’s global food product portfolio.

Fruitflow is a patented natural extract from tomato, which has been shown in human trials to reduce the propensity for aberrant blood clotting, typically associated with cardiovascular disease. Unilever has substantial global brands in the heart health market, primarily its Flora/Becel spread and drinking yogurts.

Under terms of the agreement, Provexis and Unilever will develop a second-generation concentrated format of the Fruitflow product for inclusion in Unilever branded products. Further, the partners plan to enter into a global license arrangement for the Fruitflow technology. In addition to the development of the new format, the partners will also seek to develop other new intellectual property in related products and processes during the course of the collaboration. In the event of a Fruitflow technology license agreement not being concluded for any technical, regulatory or economic reason, the collaboration on new intellectual property will continue for a further three years.

Under the scope of the collaboration agreement and any subsequent license agreement, Provexis will grant exclusive rights for certain food and beverage categories to Unilever, while retaining exclusive global rights to commercialize Fruitflow in drinks (excluding “mini” drinks) containing fruit juice; products marketed for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, medical foods, dietary supplements and prescribed medical products. Categories outside of the exclusive rights granted are available to Unilever on a non-exclusive basis.

About the collaboration, Jim Busby, vice president of R&D for Unilever, said, “Heart health is and always had been a strong focus area for Unilever. Through open innovation agreements like this, Unilever ensures access to the latest scientific and technological advances in heart health. Once we have performed our standard safety and efficacy tests for the application of the tomato extract in our products and we have set up a cost-effective supply chain, we will seek to use this natural heart healthy ingredient in our global foods portfolio.”