Algaecan Biotech Ltd.

AlgaeCan Biotech Ltd is a Canadian company which has developed novel systems for the production of high value microalgae based bioactive ingredients for the nutraceutical industry.

Learn more

Three phases of astaxanthin production.

…

AlgaeCan’s first product is Astaxanthin, the most powerful natural antioxidant produced in nature. Clinical studies have shown that the antioxidant power of Astaxanthin is 6,000 times stronger than Vitamin C, 550 times more effective than Vitamin E, and 11 times more powerful than beta-carotene.

AlgaeCan’s unique process is also capable of efficiently producing other algae-derived products which have value as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biochemicals and animal feed. Its unique photobioreactors (PBR) allow the Company to consistently produce a higher yielding product than competing products obtained from open pond systems.

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a powerful naturally-occurring antioxidant which neutralizes damaging free radicals. Excessive amounts of free radicals can lead to cell injury and death, which may contribute to many diseases such as cancer, stroke, myocardial infarction, diabetes and other major disorders. Free radicals may also be involved in Parkinson’s disease, deafness, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s. It is also believed that free radicals underlie the aging process.

The highest concentrations of Astaxanthin to be found in nature are found in a freshwater algae, Haematococcus pluvialis,

(H pluvialis), which is notoriously difficult to culture. This algae ubiquitous in nature and is an important source of food for many crustaceans. The Astaxanthin is responsible for the pink-red colouration of the flesh of salmonoids as well as shrimp, lobsters, crayfish and flamingoes.

Antioxidant power 550 times that of vitamin E and 6000 times that of vitamin C
Protects eyes and brain from oxidative stress
Natural anti-inflammatory
Reduces wrinkles, dry skin, and age spots

One of a very few supplements that can cross the blood brain barrier

Over 40 clinical studies have shown beneficial effects on

H. pluvialis

Haematococcus pluvialis is a simple algae with a complex lifecycle.

This species is well known for its high content of the strong antioxidant astaxanthin, which is an important ingredient for aquaculture, nutraceuticals and cosmetics.

Maximal astaxanthin accumulation occurs when the environmental conditions become unfavorable for normal cell growth.

Understanding its habit in culture is critical to successful cultivation.

Intellectual Property

Commercial Astaxanthin is currently produced in open ponds, tubular reactors and closed PBR. Open pond systems are exposed to varying light conditions, seasonal weather variations and outdoor contamination. The output from open pond systems is unpredictable. PBR provide the most controlled conditions throughout the various process phases and produces a more uniform product and higher yield. Astaxanthin production is not easy, is capital intensive, requiring multiple phases of controlled growth which is relatively simple to achieve in small vessels but is extremely difficult to achieve at a commercial scale in several thousand liters of water. It requires unique environmental conditions and advanced technology solutions. The microalgae grow slowly in a very neutral environment – essentially fresh water with a small amounts of nutrients added, and are highly susceptible to contamination. The microalgae produce relatively low yields of Astaxanthin and the extraction process is complex.

AlgaeCan Bloom Bioreactor

Incorporates 5 essential elements of accelerated Algal Growth

Light – frequency, intensity, saturation, low energy
Gases – diffusion, absorption, exhalation, low pressure, low energy
Flow – consistent, non shearing, low energy
Sterilization – dependable, simple, low cost
Monitoring – optimal growth requires continuous monitoring and adjustment of critical parameters.

Nutrient Formula JAG

Developed over 5 years of R&D to provide exponential growth to our specific strain of Haematococcus Pluvialis.

Cost effective
Environmentally Friendly
Specific to Astaxanthin Production

Competitors

Open Pond Systems

Competitors use open ponds that are prone to inconsistent yields

Less Environmental Control

Less environmental control is possible in open pond systems

Process

To resolve these production problems, AlgaeCan has designed, developed and built scalable PBR that deliver high yields and high quality Astaxanthin from H. pluvialis and has developed expertise in safe handling, Good Manufacturing Practice (“cGMPs”) and Good Lab Practices (“cGLPs”), quality control measures that limit contamination and assure safe production of natural health product ingredients suitable for human and animal consumption. AlgaeCan’s core expertise is its proprietary PBR closed system and artificial light sources, and its growing and stressing protocols that optimize biomass yields and bioactive concentrations. Its technology is cost effective, commercially scalable and ensures the delivery of a repeatable quality nutraceutical product and a reliable supply chain.

Research

Research and Development is a continuing process in all successful biotechnology companies.

R&D will focus on optimizing several production parameters to increase our yield of astaxanthin per unit input.

Increased astaxanthin production through biological parameter optimization
Better photon distribution using customized LED technologies
Reduced energy inputs/carbon footprint through new technologies

AlgaeCan also intends to broaden its research effort toward:

Production of other nutraceuticals and biochemicals using our developed technologies
Energy Balance efficiencies with a focus on future biofuels and environmental remediation.
Using developed technology for other algae products

Company history

AlgaeCan was founded by James Irwin & Shane Lander in 2009. Prior to 2009 James was active in Research and Development of algae-based biofuels and Shane was active in technology development in energy efficient systems.

The experience gained from the algae-to-biofuels work was a great introduction into the disciplines required for the production of nutraceuticals from microalgae. Astaxanthin production requires multiple phases of production along with a strong focus on energy efficiencies and technology blending.

Leading-edge lighting technologies coupled with the robust liquid handling protocols from the beverage and food industry have simplified the process of scale up.

Their accumulated understanding of the physiology of the microorganism has enabled the generation of a precisely tuned production model.

National Research Council of Canada provided financial and technical support through much of the R&D Phase.

Shane Lander
Chief Technology Officer
Curtis Braun
Chief Executive Officer
James Irwin
Founder
Dr. Phil Hardy, PhD
Operations Manager

Shane has more than 20 years’ experience building and running a successful chemical manufacturing and sales business called Odorchem, located in BC. An entrepreneur, Lander has developed proprietary chemicals and equipment vital to providing his company with a market advantage. He has applied this knowledge and experience to AlgaeCan’s operations, and his experience with mechanical and electronic systems has been invaluable in the task of scaling up the production of the algae and designing data collection and monitoring systems.

Dr. Braun obtained a PhD (Chemistry) from the University of British Columbia and received postdoctoral training in the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Simon Fraser University. He has over 20 years in operational management experience, with eight of those years as Vice President, Operations at biotech/analytical testing Companies, one of which he took through Stage 1, clinical trials for cancer therapeutic before it was sold. He has spent the last 3 years with Regenurex Health Corporation, first as Vice President, Operations, and now as Chief Executive Officer.

James was trained as a computer scientist and received subsequent training in biological sciences from the University of Toronto Phycological Culture Centre. James developed an interest in algae culture and the products derived from algae while he was working on a microalgae to biofuels project. He first looked at bioenergy applications using algae before realizing the opportunity to extract Astaxanthin from H. pluvialis. He is self-taught and now has more than eight years of direct, hands on experience in working with algae culture.

Phil is co-founder of North American BioExtracts and Pine River Petrochemicals and has worked for numerous companies including Ischemia Technologies, Thermo Electron, Inverness Medical Innovations and Accera Inc. Dr. Hardy's R&D experience is in molecular and cell biology, in vitro diagnostics and pharmaceutical drug development, and has transitioned to Operations activities in several FDA regulated environments. Over the past five years he has refocused on the algal and phyto-nutrient industry, performing project management, business development and manufacturing operations activities with smaller companies including Pine River Petrochemicals, North American BioExtracts, Canadian Pacific Algae and Abattis Biologix Corp. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Queensland, Australia, majoring in molecular neurobiology and 2 years as post doctorate at the University of Colorado studying cancer gene therapy.