ChromaDex External Research Program (CERP™) Celebrates 100 Peer-Reviewed Published Studies on Niagen® and Other Ingredients

ChromaDex's research & development program reaches 100 published peer-reviewed studies on Niagen^® and other ingredients

ChromaDex Corp. CDXC celebrates the ChromaDex External Research Program's (CERP™) 100th published peer-reviewed study on the company's flagship ingredient Niagen^® (patented nicotinamide riboside, or "NR") and other proprietary ingredients. CERP, the program pioneering NR research, is the first-of-its-kind to reach such a milestone. The recently published preclinical trial in the Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Journal investigated the effects of NR on male rats under treatment of paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug that can cause ocular discomfort and dry eye-like symptoms. Of note, the investigators found that NR supplementation reversed paclitaxel-induced discomfort in the cornea of rats. This milestone preclinical study joins a growing body of clinical and preclinical evidence supporting health benefits of NR supplementation.

CERP was established to advance the science of nicotinamide riboside and other ChromaDex products. To date, the program has produced more than 45% of all peer-reviewed NR-focused publications, and 70% of the peer-reviewed clinical NR publications. This speaks to the tremendous value of the program. Over 90% of studies in CERP are investigator-initiated and third party funded. This approach results in greater trust in the research, as skepticism of industry-funded research has been a challenge in the dietary supplement industry.

"Our goal through CERP is to be the industry standard for excellence in research. We are very excited about this milestone and advancing clinical and preclinical research on Niagen^® in 2022," says Dr. Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, ChromaDex Global Director of R&D for External Research. "We are looking forward to advancing the science of NR through clinical translation. We hope that CERP can serve as a torch for the industry, and other companies will develop similar programs to promote the science of dietary supplements."

ChromaDex's flagship Niagen^® (patented nicotinamide riboside, or "NR") ingredient has been at the forefront of NAD+ research and healthy aging categories. Niagen^® replenishes levels of NAD+, supports healthy cellular metabolism, and helps mitochondria function more efficiently to promote healthy aging at the cellular level. The research conducted by independent investigators through CERP™ has expanded the understanding of NR in key health areas including Ataxia-telangiectasia, skeletal muscle, liver health, and heart failure. For example:

• Zeybel et al., 2021 found a reduction in liver fat and inflammatory markers in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) when receiving a nutritional protocol including nicotinamide riboside (NR), L-serine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), and L-carnitine tartrate. (https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/msb.202110459)
• Zhou et al., 2020 demonstrated NR reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines, as well as improved the mitochondrial health of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in Stage D heart failure patients. (https://www.jci.org/articles/view/138538)
• Zhang et al., 2020 illustrated a combination supplement consisting of 1g NR, 20g L-serine, 5g N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and 3g L-carnitine significantly decreased human blood plasma levels of markers associated with increased liver fat, as well as blood plasma levels of branched chain amino acids associated with insulin resistance and development of type 2 diabetes, compared to baseline. (​​https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32337855/)

"Since its inception, CERP has served as the model for industry-academia collaborative research and intellectual property generation," says Dr. Andrew Shao, ChromaDex Senior Vice President of Global Scientific & Regulatory Affairs. "Achieving this milestone would not have been possible without all the CERP investigators and their respective institutions. We are grateful for their contributions and look forward to many more future research opportunities."

Started in 2013 by ChromaDex Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Frank Jaksch, CERP™ has been advancing the science of NR and NAD+ among other materials. This unique, industry-leading program has helped to produce the trusted science behind Niagen^® by accumulating more than 245 collaborative agreements (MTAs) with over 170 institutions in 33 countries, representing over $85 million in estimated total research value. The program has also resulted in a patent portfolio of over 40 granted patents relating to Niagen^® and other precursors to NAD+.

For additional information on the science supporting Niagen^® visit www.chromadex.com.

About ChromaDex:

ChromaDex Corp. is a global bioscience company dedicated to healthy aging. The ChromaDex team, which includes world-renowned scientists, is pioneering research on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), levels of which decline with age. ChromaDex is the innovator behind NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR), commercialized as the flagship ingredient Niagen®. Nicotinamide riboside and other NAD+ precursors are protected by ChromaDex's patent portfolio. ChromaDex maintains a website at www.chromadex.com to which ChromaDex regularly posts copies of its press releases as well as additional and financial information about the Company.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements related to results of the NIAGEN® studies, their significance and whether the studies show potential for benefits on human health. Statements that are not a description of historical facts constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plans," "potential," "possible," "probable," "believes," "seeks," "may," "will," "should," "could" or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. More detailed information about ChromaDex and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in ChromaDex's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, ChromaDex's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings submitted by ChromaDex to the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and actual results may differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and ChromaDex undertakes no obligation to revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

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