Process and Product

Expertise and process, supported by clinical studies, feasibility studies and market studies, developed in a hospital environment to produce a variety of texture-modified foods that look like normal foods, including some 20 beverages and 50 types of solid foods. Two patents were submitted, laying claim to the method for preparing foods that makes swallowing easier for people with dysphagia and the method for quantifying the texture of these therapeutic foods. The technology was recognized with several awards:

 The Quebec Hospital Association Award (1998)

 Annual Dietician Merit Award (1998)

 Veterans Affairs Canada’s Award of Excellence (1998)

 Award for Leadership Service in Innovation of the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (2001)

Market

Dysphagic elderly persons, whether institutionalized or at home, need therapeutic foods that will enable them to safely and pleasantly get enough to eat. The market has a significant international potential and is constantly growing. There are more than 430,000 dysphagic people in Canada and 12 million worldwide. The Canadian market is valued at US$12 million per year and the global market is valued at about US$3.7 billion per year.

This posting does not represent an endorsement or guarantee by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) of any products, processes or practices of the firm holding the license for this technology.

Intellectual property rights belong to Prophagia Inc. and Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Canada as managed by the Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). This technology is derived from the expertise developed by the staff at Dietetics Services at St Anne’s Hospital.

Business Opportunity Available

This technology is licensed to the Canadian company Prophagia Inc. This company, a spin-off of Veterans Affairs Canada’s St. Anne’s Hospital, would like to transfer its technology and is looking for commercial partners to ensure its development. Pro-Phage is positioning itself as a leader in the treatment of dysphagia.

Industry Contact:

Thérèse Dufresne
President, Prophagia Inc.
c/o Dietetics Services, St Anne’s Hospital
Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Québec Canada H9X 1Y9
Telephone: (514) 457-3440, ext. 2177
Facsimile: (514) 457-8473
E-mail: therese.dufresne@vac-acc.gc.ca