Patients undergoing chemotherapy often suffer from a range of side effects, which can include malnutrition and haematological, cardiac, and renal dysfunctions, as well as fatigue and other psycho-physical stresses.

“FlavoLife was born from the desire to support such people in achieving healthy ageing, even if they are in a fragile condition,” explained founder Paolo Correale.

“We wanted to introduce a medical food that, on one hand, ensures the right nutrient intake for patients and, on the other, helps manage the toxicity caused by chemotherapy.”

Protection against chemotherapy-induced toxicity

One of the primary challenges in addressing toxicity induced by chemo- and radiotherapies is the delicate balance between effectively targeting cancer cells while minimising harm to healthy cells. Traditional treatments often lack precision, leading to significant side effects.

“The complex and variable nature of different cancer types add another layer of difficulty, making it hard to develop a one-size-fits-all solution,” said Correale. “Overcoming these challenges required the introduction of innovative approaches designed to selectively mitigate toxicity without compromising the efficacy of the cancer treatments.”

Correale noted that FlavoLife’s journey has been marked by extensive research and rigorous testing with leading R&D centres.

“One of the initial challenges was identifying the right combination of flavonoids that could effectively combat toxicity,” he said. “Additionally, securing funding and navigating the regulatory landscape were significant hurdles. However, through persistent effort, we were able to refine our product.”

Leveraging senolytic efficacy

FlavoLife’s patented mix of flavonoids works by leveraging the unique senolytic efficacy of these compounds. Senolytics are a category of compounds that reduce the impact of cellular senescence. In oncology, a direct relationship between most chemotherapies and cellular senescence has been established.

Many genotoxic chemotherapies have debilitating side effects and induce cellular senescence in normal tissues. These senescent cells remain chronically present, where they can promote local and systemic inflammation that causes or exacerbates many side effects of chemotherapy.

“Flavonoids can neutralise senescent cells that accumulate due to chemotherapy and cause toxicity due to chronic inflammation,” added Correale.

“Our flavonoids mix has also been shown to promote tissue renewal and clearance, restoring tissue homeostasis, and mitigate local and systemic toxicity exacerbated by senescent cells and their SASP [senescence-associated secretory phenotype] cascade.

“It has also been shown to reduce cancer relapse and metastasis formation, by avoiding the SASP-mediated effects in pre-metastatic niche formation. The combinations in our product are designed to enhance these effects synergistically, providing a more comprehensive protective mechanism against chemotherapy-induced toxicity.”

Boosting quality of life and treatment effectiveness

FlavoLife’s key target market is patients with conditions related to the accumulation of senescent cells, particularly those undergoing oncological treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Severe side effects can significantly impact their quality of life, as well as the effectiveness of treatments.

“Our products are designed to prevent risk of malnutrition, strengthen the immune system, and reduce cancer treatment toxicity,” said Correale. “This helps patients maintain their overall health, adhere to their treatment plans, and continue daily activities with fewer interruptions.”

The company is currently in the initial stages of market rollout. First clinical trials are under way, and the business is preparing for launch through building up a network of international distributors.

“We have already secured our first national distributor,” said Correale. “We are also focusing on establishing partnerships with healthcare providers and cancer treatment centres.”

Future steps include conducting larger-scale clinical trials to further validate products and exploring additional applications of the company’s flavonoid blend in other areas of healthcare.

For its ground-breaking work, FlavoLife was recognised as the category winner – Most Innovative Finished Nutraceutical Product – in this year’s Vitafoods Europe Startup Innovation Challenge.

“Our motivation to enter the Challenge stemmed from our unwavering belief in the transformative potential of our product,” said Correale.

“We have dedicated countless hours to research, development, and refining our solution, and participating in [the Challenge] offered us the perfect platform to showcase our hard work and creativity. Winning this award not only validates our efforts, but also propels us forward, to ensure our product reaches the patients who need it most.”