ChromaDex

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company924 wordssynced 2026-04-02

Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA Founded: 1999 Ticker: NASDAQ: CDXC Focus: NAD+ precursors, anti-aging, nutritional supplements

Overview

ChromaDex is a biotechnology company dedicated to the science of aging and cellular health. The company is best known for its development of nicotinamide riboside (NR), a unique form of vitamin B3 that serves as a precursor to NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). NAD+ is a critical coenzyme involved in cellular energy metabolism, DNA repair, and the activity of sirtuin proteins, including [SIRT1](/proteins/sirt1-protein) and [SIRT3](/proteins/sirt3-protein)[@chromadex2024].

ChromaDex's research focuses on the intersection of NAD+ biology and age-related diseases, with particular emphasis on neurodegenerative conditions including [Alzheimer's disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) and [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease). The company's flagship consumer product, TruNiagen, delivers NR directly to consumers, while its pharmaceutical division pursues clinical development for therapeutic applications[@truniagen].

Business Model

ChromaDex operates across two primary business segments:

Consumer Health Products

TruNiagen: Flagship supplement containing Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)
TruNiagen+: Enhanced formulation with additional anti-aging ingredients
Mood+: NAD+ precursor combined with mood-supporting compounds
Available through direct-to-consumer sales and retail partners

...

Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA Founded: 1999 Ticker: NASDAQ: CDXC Focus: NAD+ precursors, anti-aging, nutritional supplements

Overview

Business Model

ChromaDex operates across two primary business segments:

Consumer Health Products

TruNiagen: Flagship supplement containing Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)
TruNiagen+: Enhanced formulation with additional anti-aging ingredients
Mood+: NAD+ precursor combined with mood-supporting compounds
Available through direct-to-consumer sales and retail partners

Pharmaceutical Development

Clinical development of NR for therapeutic indications
Partnerships with academic institutions for mechanism validation
Focus on neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and aging-related conditions

Pipeline and Programs

NAD+ Precursor Platform

| Program | Indication | Stage | Mechanism |
|---------|------------|-------|-----------|
| NR-001 | Alzheimer's Disease | Phase 2 | NAD+ augmentation → SIRT1 activation |
| NR-002 | Parkinson's Disease | Phase 2 | NAD+ augmentation → mitochondrial function |
| NR-003 | Mitochondrial disorders | Phase 1 | NAD+ augmentation → cellular energetics |

Parkinson's Disease Program

ChromaDex's Parkinson's disease program centers on NAD+ augmentation as a therapeutic strategy:

Rationale:

NAD+ levels decline with age and in PD brains
SIRT1 activity requires adequate NAD+ levels
Mitochondrial function depends on NAD+-dependent enzymes
Parkinson's disease is associated with impaired NAD+ metabolism[@NR_pd_trial]

Mechanism:

Mermaid diagram (expand to render)

Clinical Evidence:

Preclinical studies show NR protects dopaminergic neurons in MPTP models
Phase 1 trials demonstrated safety and NAD+ level elevation in blood
Phase 2 trials in early Parkinson's disease ongoing

Alzheimer's Disease Program

The Alzheimer's program leverages SIRT1 activation through NAD+ augmentation:

Reduced amyloid-beta accumulation in animal models
Improved mitochondrial function in AD patient-derived cells
Enhanced cognitive function in APP/PS1 mice
Phase 2 trial ongoing in mild cognitive impairment

Technology and Science

Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)

NR is a unique NAD+ precursor with several advantages:

| Property | NR | NMN | Nicotinamide |
|----------|-----|-----|--------------|
| Molecular weight | 255 Da | 335 Da | 122 Da |
| BBB penetration | Good | Moderate | Good |
| Taste/neutrality | Excellent | Poor | Poor |
| Clinical data | Extensive | Growing | Extensive |
| Side effects | Minimal | Minimal | GI issues |

Mechanism of Action

Cellular uptake: NR is transported into cells via equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs)

Conversion: NR is converted to NMN via NR kinases (NRK1, NRK2)

NAD+ synthesis: NMN is converted to NAD+ by NMN adenylyl transferases (NMNATs)

Sirtuin activation: Elevated NAD+ activates SIRT1, SIRT3, and other NAD+-dependent enzymes

Research Partnerships

ChromaDex maintains collaborations with leading research institutions:

University of Iowa: NAD+ metabolism in Parkinson's disease
University of Colorado: SIRT1 and mitochondrial function
NIH: NIA and NINDS grants for NAD+ research
University of Cambridge: Aging research and sirtuin biology

Market Position

ChromaDex occupies a unique position in the NAD+ supplement market:

Competitive Landscape

| Company | Product | NR Content | Price/30-day |
|---------|---------|------------|--------------|
| ChromaDex | TruNiagen | 300mg | ~$40 |
| Thorne | NR Pro | 300mg | ~$50 |
| Life Extension | NAD+ | 250mg | ~$35 |
| NOW Foods | NAD+ | 250mg | ~$25 |

Differentiation

Patent portfolio: Extensive IP covering NR synthesis and use
Clinical data: Most extensive clinical dataset for NR
Quality standards: Pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing
Consumer trust: Established brand in anti-aging space

Financial Overview

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Market Cap | ~$100M (2026) |
| 2025 Revenue | ~$45M |
| R&D Budget | ~$15M |
| Employees | ~150 |

Revenue Breakdown

Consumer supplements: ~70%
Pharmaceutical partnerships: ~20%
Research grants: ~10%

Strategic Outlook

Opportunities

Aging population: Growing demand for anti-aging interventions

Clinical validation: Ongoing trials may provide disease-modifying evidence

Combination approaches: NR + sirtuin activators or other mechanisms

Therapeutic expansion: Metabolic disease, cancer support, cardiovascular

Challenges

Efficacy evidence: Need robust clinical data for therapeutic claims

Competition: Generic supplement versions of NR

Regulation: FDA oversight for therapeutic claims

Manufacturing: Scaling production while maintaining quality

[SIRT1 Activators for Parkinson's Disease](/mechanisms/sirt1-activators-parkinsons)
[Sirtuin Signaling in Parkinson's Disease](/mechanisms/sirtuin-signaling-parkinsons)
[NAD+ Metabolism in Neurodegeneration](/mechanisms/nad-metabolism-neurodegeneration)
[Sirtuin Modulators](/therapeutics/sirtuin-modulators)
[NAD+ Boosters for Neurodegeneration](/therapeutics/nad-boosters-neurodegeneration)
[GSK](/companies/gsk) — Competitor in SIRT1 activator space

References

[ChromaDex Corp Overview (2024)](https://www.chromadex.com/)

[TruNiagen Product Information (2024)](https://www.truniagen.com/)

[Chong et al., NAD+ metabolism in Parkinson's disease (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34178456/)

[Brenner et al., NAD+ precursors in neurodegenerative diseases (2023)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37254219/)

[NR clinical trial in Parkinson's disease (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35614452/)

Pathway Diagram

The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving ChromaDex discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis:

Mermaid diagram (expand to render)

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ChromaDex

Overview

Business Model

Consumer Health Products

Overview

Business Model

Consumer Health Products

Pharmaceutical Development

Pipeline and Programs

NAD+ Precursor Platform

Parkinson's Disease Program

Alzheimer's Disease Program

Technology and Science

Nicotinamide Riboside (NR)

Mechanism of Action

Research Partnerships

Market Position

Competitive Landscape

Differentiation

Financial Overview

Revenue Breakdown

Strategic Outlook

Opportunities

Challenges

Related Pages

See Also

References

Pathway Diagram