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How Ajinomoto Cambrooke and Nualtra Support Patient Quality of Life
Born from a Desire to Support Children with PKU
Ajinomoto Cambrooke, Inc. became a member of the Ajinomoto Group in 2017. Cambrooke Therapeutics, Inc., the predecessor U.S. medical food company, was founded by two parents looking to support their children.
Lynn and David Paolella of Massachusetts had two children (Cameron and Brooke) with phenylketonuria (PKU). PKU is a rare genetic disorder in which the body cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. High levels of phenylalanine in the body can cause severe developmental disabilities and seizures, requiring lifelong dietary management from infancy.
Proteins in ordinary foods, including meat, seafood, and dairy products, are rich in phenylalanine, limiting the dietary choices available to people with PKU. These restrictions meant that Lynn and David's children were always hungry. Motivated by the desire for children to be able to eat their fill, the couple began handmaking a variety of low-protein foods. In 2000, they founded Cambrooke Therapeutics Inc, named after their two children, Cameron and Brooke. This founding philosophy remains unchanged, even after the company joined the Ajinomoto Group as Ajinomoto Cambrooke, Inc.
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Cambrooke: Supporting Patients and Families Through Both Products and Community
Ajinomoto Cambrooke develops and offers a wide range of products for people with PKU, while also placing strong emphasis on contributing to the broader community of patients, families, and healthcare professionals. One symbolic initiative the company implements is a summer camp for children living with PKU, organized in collaboration with the PKU community group Flok. This summer camp is held twice a year for three days along the Oregon coast, bringing together roughly 300 participants, including patients and their families. Participants take part in crafts and other hands-on activities, enjoy Ajinomoto Cambrooke’s low-protein Camburger, and participate in cooking events featuring low-protein meals.
1Meals always require careful management for people with PKU, often limiting opportunities to build cooperation and independence through shared experiences with friends and peers. Families and caregivers likewise bear the burden of preparing special meals each day. The camp allows children and families to meet and connect with others living with the same condition, share experiences and concerns, and build confidence in their daily lives through the reassurance of community. In this way, the camp aims to help participants gain reassurance and confidence in their daily lives through the support of peers and contribute to building a stronger community.
The camp also provides opportunities to enjoy Ajinomoto Cambrooke products, providing families with the opportunity to enjoy low-protein meals without the stress of menu planning. Ajinomoto Cambrooke is committed to easing dietary restrictions and expanding food choices through its diverse range of products to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
(NECPAD: New England Connection for PKU and Allied Disorders, Inc.)
Nualtra: Providing Oral Nutritional Supplements Without Compromising Taste
Nualtra Ltd., an Ajinomoto Group company since 2020, is driven by a strong commitment to improving patient quality of life.
The company provides oral nutritional supplements (ONS) for patients unable to eat sufficiently due to illnesses or treatments that cause loss of appetite, nausea from medication, or difficulty swallowing. These supplements deliver essential nutrition to support patient recovery and treatment.
ONS products serve as a lifeline supplying nutritional support to patients. However, conventional ONS products have often prioritized nutrients and functionality, with little consideration for taste or overall patient perspectives.
Nualtra places people at the heart of its work, designing products with taste, packaging, and ease of use in mind from the very start to ensure patient comfort, dignity, empathy, and care. The company strives to not only to restore and improve health through nutrition, but also to help patient enjoy each bite and live better lives. This is the vision that defines Nualtra products.
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Designing Patient Experiences Through Products
Altrini is a nutritional supplement developed by Nualtra to support the growth of children unable to eat enough because of illness or treatment. Nualtra surveyed nutritionists on children’s preferences in an effort to provide children with necessary nutrients in delicious ways. After surveying preferred tastes, mouthfeel, and thickness, the company adopted popular flavors such as vanilla and strawberry for Altrini.
Nualtra also introduced features that encourage children to reach for the product themselves. The company's product design aims to encourage children who are often reluctant to take nutritional supplements to enjoy getting the nutrition they need.
For example, the Nualtra website offers an interactive game where children can create their own superhero. This game allows children to customize their own hero by choosing various traits, characteristics, and super powers. Children can also name their characters and take part in an immersive adventure. Nualtra expects that enjoyable character designs and adventures with movie-like heroes will inspire positive emotions in children around the world.
The company will continue to ensure product quality while supporting children in leading brighter, more positive lives and improving quality of life.
The Ajinomoto Group works together with Ajinomoto Cambrooke and Nualtra, leveraging our respective strengths and experience to meet the diverse needs of each patient. Looking ahead, the Group strives to deliver value to people in more countries and regions while also supporting conditions in areas where existing products do not fully meet patient needs. We will advance both nutritional function and taste, while continuing to take on challenges that contribute to the well-being of patients living with disease and their families.
December 2025