Maypro Launches PeptiDrive LNDP in North America

Maypro is forming a global distribution partnership with Asahi Group Foods to introduce PeptiDrive-LNDP into North America and other key markets.¹ The ingredient is built around lactononadecapeptide, a 19-amino-acid peptide derived through enzymatic hydrolysis of casein, the primary protein in cow's milk.

"Consumers are looking for brain health solutions that deliver and PeptiDrive-LNDP does just that," said Abhijit Natu, Maypro’s vice president of US nutrition. "With strong clinical backing and a supported role in focus, memory, and attention, it's a breakthrough ingredient that supports cognitive wellness at every stage of life."

What Is Lactononadecapeptide and How Is It Produced?

Lactononadecapeptide, abbreviated LNDP, is a 19-residue peptide sequence derived from milk beta-casein, originally identified through previous research into the cognitive effects of milk fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus.² PeptiDRIVE-LNDP is manufactured through a defined enzymatic hydrolysis process applied to sodium caseinate, using a bacterial protease to generate the specific peptide sequence at controlled concentration.²

This production method differs from fermentation-based delivery formats used in some of the ingredient's earlier published research, allowing for more standardized dosing in tablet or capsule form.

A 2024 study examining the peptide's pharmacokinetic properties found that LNDP retained more than 90% structural stability after 2 hours of exposure to gastrointestinal digestive enzymes and demonstrated high stability across intestinal cell models, with transport mediated substantially through the peptide transporter PEPT1.³ This stability profile is relevant to oral bioavailability, since many bioactive peptides are substantially degraded during digestion before reaching systemic circulation.

What Does the Clinical Research Show About LNDP's Cognitive Effects?

An 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy middle-aged and senior adults aged 50 to 70 found that daily supplementation with 2.4 mg of LNDP delivered through a fermented milk drink improved attention and delayed memory compared with placebo.² This trial represents the foundational human evidence base from which subsequent LNDP research, including pharmacokinetic and mechanistic studies, has built.³ Published literature on the ingredient more broadly describes LNDP intake in the range of 2.1 to 4.2 mg per day for periods of 8 to 24 weeks as associated with measurable improvements in attention, information processing, and memory in healthy adult populations, based on the body of research conducted to date.³

What Is the Proposed Mechanism Behind LNDP's Cognitive Effects?

The company has linked LNDP's effects to expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein with an established role in neuroplasticity, synaptic maintenance, and neuronal survival, and one whose signaling is known to decline with aging. The company has additionally indicated that LNDP may influence nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3, and acetylcholine-related pathways, each of which has documented relevance to learning and memory processes, though the specific evidence connecting LNDP intake to changes in these particular biomarkers in human trials was not detailed in the materials reviewed for this article.

"PeptiDrive LNDP is the result of decades of research and innovation at Asahi Group Foods," noted Eiichi Kitazono, general manager at Asahi Group Foods. "Its unique structure and mechanism associated with BDNF and acetylcholine pathways set it apart from other ingredients."

References

1. Maypro. Maypro announces launch of PeptiDrive‑LNDP in North America and key global markets. June 26, 2026. Accessed June 26, 2026. Press release provided via email.

2. Ohsawa K, Uchida N, Ohki K, Nakamura Y, Yokogoshi H. Lactobacillus helveticus-fermented milk containing lactononadecapeptide (NIPPLTQTPVVVPPFLQPE) improves cognitive function in healthy middle-aged adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2018;69(3):369-376. doi:10.1080/09637486.2017.1362689

3. Nakatani E, Sasai M, Miyazaki H, Tanaka S, Hirota T, Okura T. Investigating the transepithelial transport and enzymatic stability of lactononadecapeptide(NIPPLTQTPVVVPPFLQPE), a 19-amino acid casein-derived peptide in Caco-2 cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2024;72(23):12719-12724. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00974