A leading branded ingredient supplier needed early evidence on the bioactivity of several new formulations

Zealife Institute designed a rapid zebrafish-based study, investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of natural product formulations within three weeks. This enabled the client to prioritize their best candidates for further development, all without costly in-vivo work.

INDUSTRY
Healthcare

CHALLENGE
Quantec needed a fast, reliable model to test if its bioactive whey protein complex (IDP® B422801) could reduce inflammation. Traditional approaches were slow and expensive, making rapid product validation difficult.

RESULTS
Using Zealife’s zebrafish model, we showed:

  • IDP® is able to cut inflammation back to baseline.
  • Extremely low doses were required for this effect.
  • The testing helped identifying the best product formulations.

  • 10%*

    Faster Insights in weeks not months or years

  • 70%*

    Average Lower R&D cost

  • 95%*

    Reduction in compound use

  • 70%

    Zebrafish Genetic Similarity to humans

* compared to traditional rodent studies

Partnering with the Zealife Institute is helping to transform how we work. Their cutting-edge pre-clinical research strategies have significantly boosted our our efficiency and validation timelines.
Rod Claycomb
Rod Claycomb
Co-founder & Innovation Director @ Quantec

About Quantec

Quantec, founded in New Zealand in 2008, developed IDP® - a  whey protein complex extracted from milk made up of 50+ bioactive proteins, unlocking powerful immune support.

The Challenge

Chronic inflammation is a major driver of human disease. Quantec needed a fast, reliable, and cost-effective model to test whether its bioactive whey protein complex (IDP® B422801) could safely reduce inflammation — something traditional animal models could not deliver quickly enough.

The Solution

Zealife Institute deployed its zebrafish inflammation model. Treatments included varying doses and different formulations of IDP® B422801 with outcomes measured through live imaging of inflammatory activity

“Low doses of IDP® reduced inflammation to baseline — proving potency at the right concentration.”

The Results

Low-dose IDP® (0.2–1 g/mL): significantly reduced inflammation to baseline.

These findings gave Quantec clear dose-response data, safety insights, and a validated preclinical pathway for product development.

“Zebrafish delivered actionable insights in weeks, giving Quantec a clear path to safe, effective formulation”