EPAX AS, headquartered in the center of Norway, has been manufacturing and developing marine-based omega-3 fatty acids for more than 150 years. This respect for the world’s oceans has served as the catalyst for EPAX AS’ interest and development within the marine-based omega-3 industry and influences its guiding principle of Purity | Quality | Innovation.

The quality-centered focus symbolizing this Norwegian mentality has influenced every facet of EPAX’s processes, products, and work. Through commitment to successive process development and technical innovations, EPAX is now known as the world leader in the omega-3 marine-based EPA/DHA fatty acids concentrates category.

History
EPAX’s world-class reputation stems from its research, development, and production of omega-3s. Its history dates back to 1838 when the JC Martens Company was founded in Bergen, Norway, specializing in the refinement of cod liver oil products. Over time, the company eventually merged with others and in 1999, JC Martens and the cod liver oil producing company Lipro merged into Pronova Biocare. Since the Lipro company was the first to use molecular distillation for fatty acid separation of marine oils, this merger further strengthened the position of Pronova Biocare/EPAX as the leading company in the omega-3 fatty acids field and a supplier of well-documented products for a global market.

In early 2006, the EPAX brand de-merged from Pronova Biocare under a new name, EPAX AS, in order to have an even stronger focus on marine-based omega-3 development. EPAX AS is owned by Ferd Private Equity Fund.

Production and Quality Control
The EPAX production site in Aalesund, on the west coast of Norway, is certified by the Norwegian Medicine Agencies for the production of API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients). Production, control routines, and overall quality assurance programs (QA/QC) comply with cGMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and have an approved HACCP system. In addition, EPAX complies with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) Voluntary Monograph and PhEur, the European Pharmaceutical Pharmacopei.

The company offers its omega-3 EPA/DHA fatty acids in the business-to-business segment under the brand name EPAX. EPAX is the result of pioneering efforts in the research and development of highly-concentrated omega-3 and EPA/DHA blends that target specific health conditions. The EPAX indication-specific product line is available in a wide range of highly-concentrated, ultra-pure, top quality products with different EPA/DHA ratios.

Core Commitment
EPAX’s business efforts reflect the company’s core commitment: Purity | Quality | Innovation (PQI). These values represent EPAX’s commitment to offering products that are safe, pure, and of consistent quality.

The PQI values ensure that EPAX applies the strictest limits for environmental pollutants to all of its products. These strict limits alleviate customer concerns regarding environmental pollutants in fatty fish. The company’s commitment to purity is also reflected in how it has enforced requirements that are stricter than those set by the authorities.

Two-Step Purification Process
EPAX offers ultra-pure products of consistent quality. All of EPAX’s omega-3 oils are produced using a unique state-of–the-art proprietary purification process. This two-step purification process, which incorporates molecular distillation, produces marine omega-3s with much of the non-essential oils removed, resulting in a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids. This stripping process removes virtually all of the impurities and contaminants found in fatty fish. The result is independent of the quality of the starting material, i.e. crude oil. EPAX products are the purest omega-3 products available on the market today.

The production of omega-3 concentrates is a highly complex process. It requires infinite care in the selection of unrefined marine oils, handling at every stage sampling and analyses during the purification process and the final bulk packaging.

Omega-3 Overview
The health benefits of marine omega-3 fatty acids are being increasingly accepted worldwide. The scientific evidence continues to mount, representing an opportunity for the treatment and prevention of common diseases. The American Heart Association and the World Health Organization both support the addition of omega-3 fatty acids to diets, citing their importance in maintaining good health.

Mounting evidence of the efficiency of omega-3s in categories outside the most commonly accepted areas such as cardiovascular and joint health, has lead EPAX to widen its research and development to focus on specific omega-3 formulas that target individual health issues.