Cepham Inc.
142 Belmont Dr., Unit 14
Somerset, NJ 08873
Phone: (201) 255-6011
Website: https://cepham.com/
Cepham was founded in 1978 as part of India’s science and technology boom. Its early focus was on sharing the healing powers of ayurvedic ingredients for health and wellness worldwide. Identifying new and active ingredients in ayurvedic plants continues to be the focus of the company’s pioneering work with headquarters in Somerset, NJ, and manufacturing bases in India, China and Africa. As an innovator in using blockchain technology by being one of the first in the natural products industry to partner with TagOne, Cepham received the 2020 NBJ Award for Supply Chain Transparency. Cepham is a vertically integrated ingredient company, handling everything from research to clinical studies, to manufacturing to distribution for herbal extracts, branded ingredients and phytochemicals with the goal to shorten the supply chain and make dietary supplements affordable.
Anand Swaroop, PhD, is a biochemist, founder and president of the evidence-based nutritional ingredient supplier Cepham and co-founder of Nutrify Today. He earned a Master of Science degree in biochemistry and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Allahabad, one of India’s most esteemed universities. After a decade in the pharmaceutical industry, he left a lucrative career to devote his expertise to bringing traditional ayurvedic ingredients from India to the U.S. For the next 20 years, he developed innovative ingredients for the natural product industry through Cepham. Swaroop’s diverse experience in research, quality assurance, product development, manufacturing and marketing has given him a unique and multidisciplinary perspective on the industry.
NIE: What is “Cepham Sense,” and why did you decide to develop it?
Swaroop: Affordable self-care is vital for making healthy communities. There is a delicate balance between keeping the planet and its people healthy. The knowledge gap between ground realities and market expectations sometimes makes it hard to meet the goal of affordable self-care. This commonsense knowledge is not enough, so the Cepham team decided to share the everyday information we gather across the globe, directly affecting product quality, price, availability and sustainability. We call it “Cepham Sense,” and you can subscribe to it at www.cepham.com/cephamsense.
NIE: Cepham has several research partnerships at a number of universities. How important are these collaborations for the company?
Swaroop: A scientist founded Cepham, and collaborating with universities comes naturally. We believe the science and data we present should be peer-reviewed and repeatable. Our research spending with universities also fills the widening gap in academic research funding, affecting our edge as a science-based economy. By investing in university research, we are also creating a pipeline of talent that can help develop new products and services and keep our economy healthy. Research collaborations provide access to a wealth of knowledge and resources, which can be used to create new products and help the company stay ahead of the competition. Additionally, the partnerships can help the company stay abreast of the latest trends, technology and developments in the field. Finally, these partnerships can create a positive public image for the company, demonstrating a commitment to working with the best minds in the area.
NIE: What steps has Cepham taken to ensure company transparency?
Swaroop: Cepham is a pioneer in blockchain-backed transparency in the ingredient supply chain. We have identified blockchain as a tool in 2016 to track crops arriving at our extraction plants for processing. However, it took us four years to learn the application path in our operations. Our technology partner, TagOne, helped us navigate the choppy waters and create a workable data model.
Using blockchain technology, food manufacturers, distributors and retailers can have a secure and immutable record of the entire supply chain process. It means that all stakeholders involved in the supply chain process can have access to the same data and trust that it is accurate and up to date. It also eliminates the need for manual record keeping and simplifies tracking all items from source to finished product. Furthermore, blockchain technology allows everyone to monitor the entire process, from the farm to the final product. This transparency helps ensure food quality and safety while reducing costs and improving efficiency.
NIE: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Swaroop: Our 3-S principle guides everything we do at Cepham:
Safety: Validated standards, safe use evidence, lethal dose study, mutagenicity, drug-herb interactions, adverse reactions, GMP, GLP, adulterations, traceability, chemical, biological & radiological hazards, heavy metals, pesticides, microbial contamination.
Substantiation: Bioactive identification, standardization, clinical evidence, statistically significant outcomes, post-market surveillance, pharmacovigilance, suitability for genders, bioavailability and stability of products.
Sustainability: Supply chain, patient compliance, manufacturing cost, price to end user, environmental impact, carbon footprint, replacement of traditional herbs and its effects on communities, CITES, endangered plants trade, and regenerative agriculture.
