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History

Vitas originates from the Institute for Nutrition Research, University of Oslo, from the research groups of the professors Rune Blomhoff and Christian A. Drevon.

history_brown_vitas.png – Vitas Analytical Services

During the 1980s and 1990s, Blomhoff and Drevon focused on studying the metabolism and biological effects of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E. Their research led to numerous publications and the education of several PhD students. Their work highlighted the increasing clinical significance of these vitamins in fetal development, cell differentiation, bone metabolism, and antioxidant defense – all crucial for the development of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

The rapid scientific progress gave rise to heightened demand for measurements of fat-soluble vitamins among patients with various diseases. Leveraging their expertise in measuring vitamins A, D, and E, Blomhoff and Drevon frequently conducted these analyses for clinical purposes. The rising demand spurred the idea of creating a public company in collaboration with the University of Oslo, which materialized in January 1994.

Shortly thereafter, Vitas formed a collaboration with the clinical central lab Fürst in Oslo, conducting analyses of fat-soluble vitamins and methylmalonic acid (MMA) for Norwegian primary healthcare.

In later years Vitas reputation as a high quality service provider is well established and attracts customers from the whole world.

In subsequent years, Vitas established a solid reputation as a high-quality service provider, attracting clients from around the globe. The company moved to Oslo Innovation Park and steadily expanded its operations. Starting from a few weekly analyses, it now employs 26 full-time staff (as of 2023) who analyze a wide array of compounds from biological materials, pharmaceuticals, and the oil industry.

Significant customers have been scientific collaborators within The European Framework programs over the past 5 years.

The central analytical platform primarily involves various types of chromatography. While it started there, the array of analytical methods expanded gradually, encompassing immunological techniques (RIA and ELISA) and ICP. Furthermore, there is a growing demand for regulatory support, experimental design guidance, and expert advice related to drug purification, stability, and metabolism under diverse conditions.

Vitas has garnered customers from universities and research institutes worldwide, largely due to the extensive scientific network of Rune Blomhoff and Christian A. Drevon. The company's reputation as a high-quality service provider continues to attract global clients.

Being pioneers in the modern use of dried blood spots, Vitas stands out as a leader in this field. Its high-throughput DBS facility currently processes, analyzes, and reports on approximately 30,000 DBS samples each month, with projections to reach 60,000 per month by the end of 2025.

2024 will mark 30 years since Vitas' establishment. The company takes pride in its accomplishments during this time. Vitas is recognized for providing an excellent workplace, with highly educated, motivated, and friendly employees. Permanent employees are offered stock in Vitas at reasonable prices, fostering a sense of ownership. The professional staff faces daily challenges that continuously develop their analytical and chemical competence. Vitas believes it has made significant contributions to the scientific community, providing valuable services to customers, and delivering substantial returns to stockholders.