4 June 2020 – DuPont has an extensive history with phytase development and production. In 2003, the company launched Phyzyme® XP, a bacterial enzyme helping animal producers reduce phosphorus emissions, improve nutrient uptake and maximize phytate breakdown. In 2009, DuPont introduced Thermo Protection Technology (Phyzyme® XP TPT) to deliver improved thermostability. With Axtra® PHY, in 2013, the company set what it says was a new benchmark of bioefficacy. Due to its low pH optimum, Axtra® PHY was the most bioefficacious phytase on the market – until today.
On Tuesday, DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences announced the launch of Axtra® PHY GOLD, its novel phytase enzyme, which, according to DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences offers superior performance compared to other phytases on the market and results in cost savings for poultry and pork producers.
“Axtra® PHY GOLD is a reinforcement of our leadership in phytase enzymes, and it will bring a modern, more advanced offering to the animal nutrition industry,” said Dr. Arno de Kreij, segment leader, DuPont Animal Nutrition on launch day.
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Dr. Arno de Kreij |
Dr. Arno de Kreij, who is based in the company’s Singapore office, is responsible for portfolio management, including new product development and global marketing. On the sidelines of the launch he spoke with Feedinfo News Service about the roll-out of Axtra® PHY GOLD, objectives, and why the product stands out from the crowd of other feed enzyme offerings in the market. First, when asked about how challenging a roll-out of a new product can be during these COVID-19 times, Dr. de Kreij wished to highlight that DuPont Animal Nutrition is working with all its existing and new customers to establish the right time to introduce Axtra® PHY GOLD into their systems; a process which will naturally be sooner for some compared to others. And in terms of communications, according to Dr. de Kreij, the optimisation of the customer process is a large part of the value that his firm delivers, which means they do not need to rely on one communication platform. “Our global technical and innovation teams are in constant contact with our customer base, whether via phone, video conferencing or other virtual means. Alongside this, customers are continuing to send feed samples to our network of partner labs for analysis, so we are in a strong position to continue to work closely with customers without any disruption to our service.” And on a general note, Dr. de Kreij stressed: “The animal nutrition business has been deemed essential by relevant government agencies. This means we can continue to safely produce and ship customer orders while protecting the safety and health of our employees in these difficult times.” Axtra® PHY GOLD is currently produced in DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences’ existing manufacturing facilities around the world. “And as demand continues to grow, we will expand our capacity accordingly and do not expect any supply bottlenecks,” commented Dr. de Kreij. Axtra® PHY GOLD will initially be available in the US, Mexico and India and eventually worldwide. |
“We are launching Axtra® PHY GOLD globally. Of course, local regulatory authorities need to review and approve the product which means availability will differ between countries in the initial stages. But we expect to soon be reaching the rest of the world,” he said.
Reflecting on launch objectives, Dr. de Kreij simply stated: “we want to deliver superior value to our customers.”
“With Axtra® PHY GOLD we are reinforcing our leadership in phytase enzymes by bringing a modern, more advanced offering to the animal nutrition industry. It delivers exceptional value on every level, including significant feed cost savings. We achieve this through the performance of the product itself as well as our extensive application knowledge and the wider commercial benefits of use, such as inorganic phosphate free diets and calcium solubility dependent matrix values. An overall outcome which is good for the planet, performance and profit.”
Questioned more about the advantages of Axtra® PHY GOLD, Dr. de Kreij described the product as a novel phytase molecule which has not been seen before, offering superior bioefficacy and thermostability compared to all its competitors, including DuPont Animal Nutrition’s existing Axtra® PHY.
He also pointed out that phytases are unique in that when you compare their pH profiles you can make a good, but not perfect prediction on bioefficacy.
“So, when we developed Axtra® PHY GOLD, we specifically screened for a broader pH profile, as well as superior intrinsic thermostability. That said, what really matters is animal performance which is why we have invested in robust research to demonstrate our new product’s consistently superior performance; 18 studies are currently available, and more are on the way,” he said.
“I always recommend customers look at head-to-head comparisons in properly designed trials. For a pH profile, it should include relevant competitors. For efficacy trials, that would mean a positive control without safety margins and a negative control with a full matrix downspec.”
According to Dr. de Kreij, Axtra® PHY GOLD – thanks to its bioefficacy - means that the elimination of inorganic phosphate from diets high in phytate is entirely possible. And in a message to companies accustomed to using inorganic feed phosphates, he said: “DuPont is driving science to enable inorganic phosphate free diets. Our scientific studies show that we can formulate practical plant-based diets that are 100% inorganic phosphate free, without any performance loss or animal welfare issues. This is a first. If we consider the global broiler industry, we could save a million tonnes of mono calcium phosphate a year.”
Furthermore, when looking at the company’s product description, Axtra® PHY GOLD also supplies animal producers with numerous value-added services, such as diet and raw material analysis and feed formulation tools, in line with DuPont’s nutribiotic approach to working with customers on their holistic feed strategy.
On 18 June 2020, Dr. de Kreij will be joined by Rachael Hardy - a Global Technical Marketing Manager from the company’s global technical team has over five years of experience in phytase development and application– for a one-hour webinar (‘The best just got better’) hosted by DuPont Animal Nutrition, during which the benefits of Axtra® PHY GOLD will be further explained. Attendance is free (register here) and will start at 15:00 CEST.
Published in association with DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences
