Lonza Capsugel will unveil its new premium collagen blend for pet food applications at Interzoo 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany, from May 12–15. UC-Flex collagen blend was designed for companion animals to meet the growing demand for effective, science-backed joint health support.
The ingredient blends UC‑II, undenatured type II collagen, with calcium carbonate. A daily 400 mg dose provides the validated 40 mg of UC‑II undenatured type II collagen shown to improve joint comfort, flexibility, and mobility in dogs.
“This expansion of our UC-II Pets portfolio bridges a crucial gap between the scientifically validated joint health benefits of UC-II undenatured type II collagen and the specific formulation and processing demands of pet food,” says Dr. Zain Saiyed, global director of Research & Product Development (Dosage Form Solutions & Ingredients) at Lonza Capsugel.
“UC-Flex collagen blend leverages UC-II science in a form optimized for pet food formulation, enabling brands to deliver premium, trusted joint health support.”
Two decades of research
Backed by over two decades of research and 10 peer-reviewed research publications on companion animals, UC-II collagen is marketed as the most researched brand of undenatured type II collagen on the market.
Lonza Capsugel highlights that the uniquely low effective dose of just 40 mg/day and formulation flexibility of UC-Flex means that it is a scientifically validated joint health support that can be easily incorporated into numerous convenient applications, such as treats or chews.
The ingredient is manufactured in state‑of‑the‑art, FDA‑registered, and National Sanitation Foundation food and GMP‑certified US facilities, approved for EU imports, with full traceability and safeguards that align with the requirements of the US Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service.
Lonza Capsugel details its rigorous, contamination‑controlled production and blending processes to ensure exceptional purity, quality, and reliability for pet nutrition applications.
Additionally, the company cites consumer research showing that more than 40% of global pet owners are interested in pet food providing functional health benefits, such as joint health, and pet food launches containing collagen rose by 34% from 2021 to 2025.
Latest in pet nutrition pipeline
In other pet nutrition industry headlines, Symrise recently made an equity investment in Bond Pet Foods to complement its pet nutrition portfolio. The US biotechnology company produces animal-identical proteins with precision fermentation.
Nutrition Insight previously spoke with BeneMeat about its latest trials that incorporated 18% cultivated hamster meat into a dog treat. The company said this prototype allowed consumers to test the product with their pets to experience cultivated-meat technology firsthand.
Industry experts are observing a growing trend of “humanized” pet nutrition products, which is driven by demand for more natural, human-grade solutions. In response, producers and suppliers are offering innovations in sustainable, plant-based, and functional offerings.
