Niagen Bioscience (NAGE) LD Micro 20th Annual Main Event Conference summary

NAD science and research

• NAD was described as central to cellular energy metabolism and repair; higher levels were linked to more efficient mitochondria and greater cellular resilience.

• Nicotinamide riboside, branded Niagen, was presented as a means of rapidly elevating NAD; 51 peer-reviewed clinical studies and 30 ongoing studies were cited.

• NR was described as entering metabolically stressed cells and converting to NMN and then NAD; the CEO argued that oral NMN converts to NR in the bloodstream and that NR depletes CD38.

Commercial platform and expansion

• Tru Niagen is sold mainly through e-commerce, including Shopify and Amazon, with limited U.S. retail and distribution through Watsons in Asia; ingredient customers include Nestlé and H&H.

• Last year's sales were ~$97M from the vitamin product and ~$24M from ingredient sales; IV and injection sales were $4M-$5M, with significant upside expected in coming years.

• NanoCloud topical launched the day before the presentation; studies with Estée Lauder and a third party were cited for skin penetration, skin-cell NAD elevation and bloodstream entry, with better performance than niacinamide in one study.

• Injectable/IV Niagen is distributed through ~1,700 U.S. clinics; a prescription-based home injection kit is also available, and the CEO described injectable delivery as more powerful than oral use.

• A SuperAger brand campaign began weeks earlier, featuring surfer Kelly Slater; marketing is increasing to build awareness of Tru Niagen.

Orphan drug pipeline

• Rare-disease drug approvals were identified as a priority; targets cited include ataxia-telangiectasia, Cockayne syndrome, Werner syndrome, Friedreich's ataxia and mitochondrial myopathy.

• The drug program uses patented synthetic NB4168, described as more bioavailable than the molecule used in Tru Niagen; two published studies in ataxia-telangiectasia were characterized as having remarkable results.

• The CEO cited a recent $250M sale of a rare-disease priority review voucher and said vouchers could potentially be earned for six orphan diseases being pursued.