Singapore, June 23, 2006 − Fonterra and GE Healthcare are taking the bone health fight into the streets and shopping malls of Asia through a new partnership using Fonterra's ANLENE^TM bone health products and GE Healthcare's bone mineral
density technology.

Representatives of global dairy company Fonterra and GE Healthcare's Lunar business, the industry leader in bone assessment technologies, signed the three-year agreement in Singapore recently.


Fonterra Brands Managing Director Sanjay Khosla said the partnership is about bringing together the innovation and expertise of two leading companies to reach a new level of understanding about osteoporosis and bone health.

Fonterra has extensive expertise in bone nutrition and through its ANLENE^TM brand has invested significantly in bone health research and development.

Mr Khosla said ANLENE^TM is committed to on-going innovation and recently launched a revolutionary new product, which provides complete bone nutrition, and PHYTO K^TM Regenerative Formula, that acts to LOCK IN^TM nutrients.

"This programme will improve our understanding of osteoporosis and bone health," Mr Khosla said.

"This partnership will highlight the problem of poor bone health while people still have time to do something about it. We know that one of the biggest concerns among consumers is not having mobility throughout their lives."

The partnership's first initiative is the Anlene^TM Bone Health Check, which will provide free ultrasound bone health screenings to an estimated three million people in nine countries across Asia over the next two years. The next phase is likely to extend to Australia and New Zealand.

Mr Khosla said the programme will capture a comprehensive bank of data on bone health that will be shared with other lead agencies addressing osteoporosis and bone health problems, including the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).

International Osteoporosis Foundation Chief Executive Dr Daniel Navid welcomed the initiative, which will assist in guiding its education and prevention programmes.

"One of the problems we face in making people aware of osteoporosis is that it is a `silent' disease with no outward physical signs until the first fracture occurs. Bone scans make bone health `real' for people at risk."

Mr Khosla said the Anlene^TM Bone Health Check has the potential to generate extensive public awareness about the importance of bone health by taking the bone health message into the streets, shopping malls, and work places.

More Voices