A Letter from the ChromaDex Chief Executive Officer

A Letter from the ChromaDex Chief Executive Officer

Calif., Feb. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - The following is issued on

behalf of ChromaDex:

Fellow Shareholders:

January 2016, I issued a shareholder

letter wherein I described in some detail my enthusiasm

surrounding the enormous commercial opportunity we have with our

nicotinamide riboside

(NR), a next-generation form of

Vitamin B3 with what I believe has blockbuster potential in the

emerging category of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)

What makes NR unique is its scientifically proven ability to

increase production of the co-enzyme, NAD+. As we age, NAD+ levels

decline. Such declines have been implicated in mitochondrial

dysfunction and poor cellular energy metabolism, whereas increases

in NAD+ levels are consistently being linked to improved

mitochondrial function. Recent publications have reported the

beneficial impact of NAD+ on conditions as far ranging as glaucoma

to chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. This

ever growing body of evidence demonstrating the importance of NAD+

is key to keep in mind when considering the potential

saw continued growth in the number of published research studies,

as well as subsequent media attention regarding NR and NAD+ and

their importance in healthy aging. In fact, since the

launch of NIAGEN , there have

been more than 60 published studies involving NR. During the

same time, there were nearly 500 studies that have published

referencing NAD+ and aging. To support the

education of the general public on these new, but growing areas of

interest, we are helping to develop and curate an educational

entirely to education on the topics of NR and NAD+. With the help

of many of the world's foremost research authorities on these

topics, we believe this site will become the

scientifically-validated,

information hub for NR and NAD+ education.

We believe NIAGEN will

eventually become part of an important nutrient deficiency story

similar to vitamin C, vitamin D, folic acid, Co-Enzyme Q-10,

fatty acids (DHA and EPA). Ingredients that

address nutrient deficiencies are among the largest in the

ingredient market, and are currently estimated to have a value

between $2 billion and $2.5 billion as reported by Nutritional

blockbuster vitamins and ingredients are commonly found in many

mainstream consumer products including food, beverage, supplements,

multi-vitamins, early-life nutrition, medical food, skin care,

sports nutrition, and even pharmaceutical products. We believe

is on track to become the next blockbuster ingredient, and as such,

we expect it will eventually be incorporated in all of these types

blockbuster vitamins and ingredients that have a high level of

customer awareness also have a substantial number of published

research and clinical studies validating their safety and health

benefits. In fact, there is a strong correlation showing that the

higher the number of published studies on an ingredient, the higher

the amount of revenue the ingredient ultimately

the past three years, we have established over 100 collaborative

agreements with leading universities and research institutions to

study the safety and efficacy of NIAGEN .

To put this into perspective, a typical new ingredient is fortunate

to have five or six collaborative studies in

the first three years. I am not aware of any other

vitamin or ingredient in recent history that has been the subject

of such tremendous interest at the research level at such an early

stage in its lifecycle. Simply put, I believe this level of

scientific interest in NIAGEN

may be an enormous early validation of its blockbuster potential.

It is also important to

note that ChromaDex is not bearing the cost of these studies, which

we estimate could surpass $40 million. Moreover, we expect the

number of collaborative research studies for

The number of studies

showing positive effects

are approaching an inflection point where peer-reviewed published

clinical data are likely to result in additional commercial

opportunities for NIAGEN .

indications point to 2017 being a pivotal year for ChromaDex in

both continued published research and business development

activity. We believe positive data from both human and animal

studies will deepen the validation of NIAGEN

safety, function, applications and efficacy, and become a primary

driver in ChromaDex's striking business development deals and

substantial revenue opportunities with large consumer product

are currently twelve human clinical studies on nicotinamide riboside

(NR) that are in various phases that can be found on

all of these studies, two are fully sponsored by

Results from ChromaDex's (KGK Synergize)

completed human clinical trial of NIAGEN along

with an animal study component, were published in

Nature Communications in

October 2016. The studies confirmed that NIAGEN is

safe and can significantly elevate NAD+ more efficiently than other

forms of Vitamin B3.

ChromaDex's (KGK Synergize)

study is a 140 participant

trial that will evaluate the effect of repeated doses of

on NAD+ metabolite concentrations in blood, urine and muscle in

healthy adults. This study will evaluate the impacts of 3 dose

compared to a placebo. One quarter of subjects will receive the low

(100 mg), one quarter will receive the moderate dose of

(300 mg), one quarter will receive the higher dose of NIAGEN

(1000 mg) and one quarter will receive the placebo. The recruitment