NNB Nutrition has partnered with Axiom Foods to launch PeptiClear™, a line of hydrolyzed plant proteins engineered for clarity, solubility, and flavor neutrality, alongside DL-185®, a dietary di-leucine peptide backed by peer-reviewed clinical data showing 60% greater stimulation of muscle protein synthesis compared with equivalent leucine supplementation.
The partnership arrives as global whey protein supply faces structural constraints. Whey production is inherently coupled to dairy and cheese manufacturing, a supply chain that cannot scale quickly enough to meet accelerating demand from the "proteinification" of mainstream food categories — beverages, frozen desserts, baked goods, condiments, confectionery, and ready-to-drink formats. Large multinationals holding long-term supply contracts are largely insulated, but emerging brands and smaller co-manufacturers face rising costs and shrinking inventory access.
PeptiClear™ Formulation Profile
Conventional plant proteins have historically carried significant formulation liabilities: off-notes, grittiness, and opacity that limit application across beverage and dessert matrices. PeptiClear™ addresses these pain points through hydrolysis, yielding a highly concentrated ingredient with a neutral flavor profile and exceptional solubility suitable for clear-liquid applications including functional RTD beverages and protein waters — categories where whey isolate has long been the default. Axiom Foods, the platform's co-developer, also supplies plant-protein-based dairy milk alternatives, extending the ingredient ecosystem for finished-formulation manufacturers.
DL-185® Clinical Evidence
DL-185® is composed of two leucine molecules bonded in natural peptide form, making it eligible for use in both dietary supplements and conventional food products under the same regulatory framework as free-form leucine. In a published human clinical trial (Paulussen et al., Journal of Applied Physiology, 2021), DL-185® demonstrated approximately 60% greater stimulation of muscle protein synthesis than leucine alone. A second peer-reviewed study (Hagele et al., PLoS ONE, 2024) found that resistance-trained individuals supplementing with DL-185® achieved greater strength improvements than those receiving equivalent leucine doses. When layered onto PeptiClear™'s hydrolyzed plant protein base, DL-185® is positioned to help close the anabolic performance gap that has historically made plant proteins less attractive to sports-nutrition formulators.
"NNB believes the future of protein isn't about replacing whey, it's about expanding the world's ability to deliver high-quality protein across every food format," said Dustin Elliott, Chief Brand Officer at NNB Nutrition. "As consumer demand continues to outpace traditional dairy supply, the industry needs innovative solutions that combine functionality, scalability, and performance."
Operator Implications
For brands navigating the protein ingredient supply squeeze, PeptiClear™ offers a white-label-ready pathway into high-protein SKUs without dependence on fluctuating whey spot markets. The ingredient's clear-soluble profile also unlocks application categories — protein-fortified dressings, sauces, and confectionery — that have been technically difficult with standard plant proteins. NNB's portfolio of more than 60 patents filed and a track record in novel nutraceutical ingredients positions the company to support manufacturers seeking supply-chain diversification at scale. Operators evaluating GLP-1-adjacent weight-management products or high-protein reformulations will find DL-185®'s clinical endpoint data on muscle protein synthesis a differentiating structure-function claim asset.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
