Cera Products Inc.

History:
The development of Cera Product’s oral rehydration therapy (ORT) products began in Bangladesh at the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research in Dhaka (ICDDRB) during the 1980s. It was at the ICDDRB where Cera Products Inc. president, Charlene Riikonen, Dr. David Sack and Dr. W. B. Greenough III met and worked together with the intention of preventing unnecessary suffering, severe illnesses and death by assisting individuals who were afflicted with dehydration and diarrhea. After returning to the United States, attempts were made to find a pharmaceutical company to take on the burden of developing a faster, more effective and better tolerated form of oral rehydration therapy. At the time no large pharmaceutical companies were interested in the research and development of a rice-based ORS product. Determined to develop a rice-based oral rehydration therapy product; Cera Products was founded in 1993 by Charlene Riikonen and Esko Riikonen. From there work began to find appropriate manufacturing partners in the United States and to develop the formulations.

Development: In 1996, as part of an ongoing clinical research and product development relationship with Johns Hopkins University physicians Dr. Greenough and Dr. Sack, Cera Products Inc. undertook clinical studies. Following the initial results Cera Products, Inc. applied for its patents and began to manufacture CeraLyte ORS. In 1997, the core technology and formulations that comprise Cera’s products were awarded a U.S. patent. Since its first patent, Cera Products has continued to grow so that now the Company manufactures five specific oral hydration delivery products: CeraLyte®, CeraSport®, CeraFlu™, CeraVacx®, and CeraVet®. Cera’s products are kosher OU certified, and manufactured in the United States under GMP and with the formulations specified by the World Health Organization for ORS. A second patent for global applications is pending. CeraLyte® is a rice-based oral electrolyte or “ORS” that prevents and corrects dehydration from diarrhea. Because of its unique patented formulation of mixed chain rice carbohydrate at low osmolarity of <220 mOsm/Liter, CeraLyte reduces diarrhea as it hydrates.

Distribution:
Current distribution is USA, including hospitals, nursing homes and the US government. Distribution also is in South Africa, Canada, Central America, Korea, and other countries in process in Asia and Europe, as well as to Pakistan, El Salvador, Haiti, Myanmar, parts of Africa, and other disaster-stricken areas via charitable giving from Cera Products to Child Health Foundation (CHF), Direct Relief International (DRI) and other charities. Research:
Research on Low Osmolarity and Rice-Based ORS
The challenge of increased diarrhea output due to the presence of too much glucose has been researched by examining rice-based verses glucose-based oral rehydration solutions. The glucose molecules in a rice-based solution are in the form of a complex carbohydrate. Complex carbohydrate chains of glucose have a low osmolarity, which helps to avoid the negative side of effects of too much glucose. As a result, research has shown that rice-based carbohydrate solutions have a significant advantage over standard glucose-based solutions, by accelerating the adsorption of fluids and electrolytes while reducing diarrhea. References:
1. Duggan C, Fontaine O, Pierce NF, et al (2004). “Scientific Rationale for a Change in the Composition of Oral Rehydration Solution”. Journal of the American Medical Association 291:2628-31.
2. Gore SM, Fontaine O, Pierce NE. (1992) “Impact of rice-based rehydration solution on stool output and duration of diarrhea; meta-analysis of 13 clinical trials.” British Medical Journal 304: 287-91.
3. Greenough WB (2004). “The Human, Societal, and Scientific Legacy of Cholera". Journal of Clinical Investigation 113:334-39.
4. Kelly D, Nadeau J. (2004). “Oral Rehydration Solution: A “Low-Tech” Oft Neglected Therapy.” Nutrition Issues in Gastroenterology 21: 51-62.
5. King CK, Glass R, et al (2003). “Managing Acute Gastroenteritis Among Children”. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 52 (RR-16):1-13.
6. Rabbani GH (2000). “The Search for a Better Oral Rehydration Solution for Cholera”. New England Journal of Medicine 342:345-47.
7. Zaman K, Yunus M, Rahman A, Chowdhury HR, Sack DA. Efficacy of a packaged rice oral rehydration solution among children with cholera and cholera-like illness. Acta Paediatr. 2001; 90(5):505-510. Rice-Based ORS Bibliography General ORS Bibliography

updated: 23 August, 2019