INTERVIEW

Hot on the heels of the launch of the new collagen-based formulation, Defiance™, Joanna Sterkowicz chats to the lead formulation pharmacist behind this brand, the Sprezzatura weight-loss system and the Neurologica range, Edwin Govender (B.Pharm. MBA), about the development process.

As a lead formulation pharmacist for supplements developed by Neurologica SA and Torus Health Care, you place a lot of emphasis on nootropics – what exactly are they?

The term ‘Noo-Tropic’ is defined as: ‘a new classification of molecules that act selectively towards the brain’s high level integrative activity.’

Just as modern medicine has brought us pain-killers, multivitamin supplements, and fluoride toothpaste, scientists have been working on the development of substances that enhance our most precious asset – our brain. These substances are referred to as nootropics.

The term ‘nootropic’ comes from the Greek for ‘to bend or shape the mind’, and it refers to substances and compounds that can improve your memory, increase your levels of concentration, and boost productivity and focus. Nootropics can also help reduce stress, aid relaxation, and improve sleep, and they are known for their neuroprotective (or preventative) benefits.

Commonly used nootropics include Ashwagandha, Ginseng, vitamin B supplements and Rhodiola Rosea. Synthetic options which comply with nootropic criteria Sulbutiamine and Noopept.

Scientific research is ongoing to better understand nootropics and their effects, and support standardisation As such, the modern definition of nootropics was developed in the 1960s and it states that in order to be classified as a nootropic, a substance or compound must comply with 5 important criteria:

1. Improves memory and learning

2. Supports the brain under stressful conditions

3. Protects the brain

4. Enhances natural brain power

5. It must be non-toxic At Neurologica, we have added a 6threquirement that it should be non-addictive.

When you embark on developing a new product, what is your starting point from a pharmacological point of view?

When we design any product, both current and upcoming, our focus is on pioneering formulations that create synergy in the brain and body, to produce effects far better than could be achieved with single ingredients. This requires a complex understanding of how human physiology and pharmacology work, which is at the heart of what we are pioneering.

What are the next steps in the development/ formulation process?

As a result of the team’s pharmaceutical training, we have ensured that the formulations are holistic. Neurologica is a nootropic supplement formulated with a specific range of nootropic ingredients and further fortified with a targeted Vitamin B complex to ensure that the brain has sufficient support for the heavy lifting it does in the modern digital era.

Responsibly, Vitamin D, Zinc and Selenium are added to support immunity and general health since stress often leads to diminished immunity.

What about the manufacturing process – what sort of manufacturing standard/s do you look for in a factory?

As a pharmacist, it is essential that Neurologica products are manufactured in a pharmaceutical facility that complies with the requirements of the South African Pharmacy Council for good manufacturing practices. We partner with the facility to source raw materials from ethical and accredited international ingredient manufacturers.

"The term ‘NOOTROPIC’ COMES FROM the Greek for ‘to bend or SHAPE THE MIND’, and it refers to SUBSTANCES AND COMPOUNDS that can IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY, increase your LEVELS OF CONCENTR ATION, and BOOST PRODUCTIVITY and focus.

There seems to be a lot of focus these days on cruelty-free and ‘clean beauty’ – please comment.

You might have noticed that we have not used traditional plastic supplement packaging. Our planet does not need more single-use plastic bottles and we opted to go for aluminium.

We selected aluminium bottles not just for their eye-catching on-shelf appearance, but also because they are infinitely recyclable, as aluminium has no limit on how many times it can undergo the recycling process.

The vitamins and ingredients in our formulations are also RSPO certified, meaning they are sourced from accredited sustainable sources.

How can stocking a nootropic supplement help in generating revenue in beauty and aesthetics practices?

Mental wellness and stress has become extremely prevalent. Stress signals the release of hormones that can trigger inflammation, impair wound healing, accelerate ageing and worsen skin conditions including acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

Creating a treatment plan that includes mental health can therefore optimize the outcome for patients and Neurologica provides a safe, holistic way to do this, using nootropics.