In the 1990s, researchers at UNMC discovered that combining creatine, a dietary supplement popular among athletes and bodybuilders to increase strength and performance, with ethyl ester, an alcohol derived from common sources such as corn oil, would create a novel compound which lessens side effects, such as bloating and cramping, normally associated with creatine. The ethyl ester allows body tissues to absorb the creatine more efficiently, thereby reducing the amount needed to be ingested. In 2001 UNeMed licensed the novel compound, known as creatine ethyl ester, to ProNutrient Technologies, Inc., a Nebraska start-up company designed to exploit the market potential. Together, UNeMed and ProNutrient filed patents, went through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notification process, explored manufacturing options, and developed marketing and distribution plans. In 2003 ProNutrient was acquired by Biovance Life Sciences, Inc.