March 4, 2013

BIOMIN to launch FUMzyme^® - the first purified enzyme in Thailand

BIOMIN will launch FUMzyme^®, - the first purified enzyme that bio-transforms fumonisins into non-toxic metabolites during VIV Asia 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The product  represents progress in mycotoxin risk management, closing the gaps of adsorption amid increasing contamination levels and unidentified losses in animal performance.

Taking advantage of its 30 years of experience in mycotoxin risk management and knowledge in biotransformation, BIOMIN will introduce FUMzyme^® as a completely new approach in counteracting fumonisins in animal production. FUMzyme^® is a purified enzyme that bio-transforms fumonisins into non-toxic metabolites in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. The detoxifying activity of this enzyme was confirmed in numerous in vitro and in vivo experiments.

"Fumonisins elicit a toxic effect on the sphingolipid metabolism. The ratio of the sphingoid bases sphinganine and sphingosine in serum serves as an indicator (bio-marker) of the effects of fumonisin on animals" says Ursula Hofstetter, director of the Competence Center Mycotoxins at BIOMIN. "For the first time, using the sphinganine/sphingosine ratio (Sa/So) as a bio-marker, the detoxification of fumonisins by FUMzyme^® can be clearly demonstrated", continues Hofstetter.

Climate change and the international transportation of raw materials are only two of the several factors that increase fumonisin contamination all over the world. Recent findings have revealed natural fumonisin contamination levels of 77 parts per million (ppm) in finished feed. Pig and poultry farmers are not only suffering from unidentified losses in performance and immunosuppressive effects, but also species-specific clinical problems.

So far, the only existing possibility of alleviating fumonisin intoxication was to bind fumonisins by adsorptive substances. Unfortunately, due to the molecular structure of these mycotoxins and the pH dependence of the reaction, it can only be insuffiently adsorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.