Holista signs ‘halal’ deals in Malaysia

Listed Australian biotech Holista CollTech announced today that it has signed two significant deals regarding the research and commercialisation of its halal food-grade sheep collagen.

The first deal will see the company working with Universiti Sains Malaysia (The Science University of Malaysia) on research into how plant-based enzymes break down collagen, making it easier for people to digest, as well as the extraction of potential bio-products, such as excess fibres and fat from sheep skins to use as halal chicken feed.

The agreement was signed before Malaysia’s deputy Prime Minister YAB Tan Sri Haji Muhyiddin Yassin at the BioMalaysia 2010 conference and exhibition in Kuala Lumpur this week.

Holista also signed a deal with Hong Kong-based Chinese heath products distributor UniAmla with a view to commercialising and launching what would be the first halal ovine supplement for human consumption in China. Under the terms of the agreement UniAmla will buy from Holista 30 metric tons of food-grade ovine collagen a year starting in 2011.

Holista said that it also plans to use its own distribution networks in Malaysia to market its own brand of ovine collagen throughout North and South East Asia.

Thee company noted that collagen has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years, and is used widely throughout China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.

Its applications range from burns treatment, improved bone health, anti-ageing as well as a wide range of cosmetic applications.