Beyond The Headlines: Novonesis’ 8% YoY growth and Resbiotic’s new GLP-1 postbiotic

This week in industry news, Novonesis reported strong growth with 8% organic sales and a 36.1% adjusted EBITDA margin, driven by innovation in biosolutions. Meanwhile, the physician-developed brand Resbiotic launched its ResM GLP-1 Postbiotic supplement to support gut health and metabolism. In other updates, Sequential Skin and AMILI secured funding for gut-skin axis research, while the China International Health & Nutrition Expo (NHNE) gears up for its 10th anniversary.

Business news

Novonesis reported 8% organic sales growth and a 36.1% adjusted EBITDA margin in 2024, driven by strong performance in Food & Health Biosolutions and Planetary Health Biosolutions. The Danish biotech firm launched 45 new innovations, with 30% of sales coming from products introduced in the past five years. Sustainability remains a key focus, with 83% of sales aligning with six UN Sustainable Development Goals and a 63% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions since 2018. Regional growth was strongest in Latin America (15%) and Asia Pacific (10%), while emerging markets grew 12% overall. Novonesis projects 5–8% organic sales growth and an increased EBITDA margin of 37–38% in 2025. 

Resbiotic, a physician-developed supplement brand, launched ResM GLP-1 Postbiotic (Image credit: Resbiotic).New product launches

Resbiotic, a physician-developed supplement brand, launched ResM GLP-1 Postbiotic, a supplement designed to support gut health, metabolism, and overall wellness. By leveraging postbiotics — metabolites produced by beneficial bacteria — ResM helps modulate GLP-1 to promote digestive wellness, weight management, and healthy blood sugar balance. The product is non-GMO, sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, and made with natural ingredients. Founded in 2021, Resbiotic focuses on science-backed microbiome solutions, emphasizing the Gut-X Axis, which links gut health to broader biological functions. ResM will be showcased at Natural Products Expo West 2025 in Anaheim, California, US.

Touchstone Essentials launched Para-Shield, a natural herbal cleanse supplement designed to support gut detox, digestive health, and microbial balance. With 60 million US citizens experiencing digestive issues and a booming US$13.5 billion US digestive health market, the company saw a growing demand for natural, non-pharmaceutical solutions. Developed with organic herbs like clove, wormwood, black walnut hull, barberry, and ginger, Para-Shield works synergistically with Touchstone Essentials’ popular zeolite detox products. Board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Alexander Lee supports the supplement, citing modern environmental and dietary challenges impacting gut health. The brand plans to expand its range with more products.

Roots Focus, created by MHF Group Holdings, is expanding its mind- and mood-boosting supplement line by launching convenient stick packs, offering a portable way to enhance mental clarity and energy. Combining 56 mg of caffeine with the cognitive benefits of four potent functional mushrooms, these stick packs provide sustained focus and vitality without the crash of traditional energy drinks. Available in four flavors — Strawberry Watermelon, Spicy Pineapple, Blackberry Lavender Lemonade, and Fruit Punch — each serving is sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and 20 calories.

Scientific research

A study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Mass General Brigham suggests that eating yogurt at least twice a week may lower the risk of colon cancer by promoting a healthier gut microbiome. Published in Gut Microbes on February 12, the study analyzed data from over 150,000 people tracked for more than 30 years and found that regular yogurt consumption was linked to lower rates of proximal colorectal cancer associated with Bifidobacterium, a bacterial species found in yogurt. This type of colon cancer, which occurs on the right side of the colon, generally has worse survival outcomes than cancer on the left side. Co-senior author Tomotaka Ugai emphasized that yogurt supports a strong and healthy gut, potentially reducing colon cancer risk.

Touchstone Essentials launched Para-Shield, a natural herbal cleanse supplement (Image credit: Touchstone Essentials).A large cohort study of 450,111 participants from the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition found that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 6% lower risk of obesity-related cancers compared to low adherence. Conducted across ten European countries with a median follow-up of 14.9 years, the study showed that participants with high Mediterranean diet adherence (7–9 points) had a lower incidence of obesity-related cancers than those with low adherence (0–3 points). Importantly, the reduced cancer risk was not mediated by body mass index or waist-to-hip ratio, suggesting that the Mediterranean diet’s protective effects may be independent of adiposity. The researchers stress the need for further studies to understand the underlying mechanisms linking the Mediterranean diet to cancer prevention.

Announcements and grants

Sequential Skin and AMILI were awarded the UK-Singapore Collaborative R&D Grant for an SG$1.8 million (US$1.3 million) project to advance research on the gut-skin axis and its role in inflammatory skin disorders like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Innovate UK and Enterprise SG will support this initiative by combining Sequential’s extensive skin microbiome dataset with AMILI’s gut microbiome research to develop non-invasive diagnostic tools. With inflammatory skin disorders affecting up to 25% of the population, the collaboration aims to improve understanding and treatment by integrating gut and skin microbiome analysis. Sequential, provider of at-home skin microbiome testing, has worked with over 80 personal care and pharmaceutical companies. AMILI has built Asia’s largest multi-ethnic microbiome database. Both companies see this funding as an opportunity to transform diagnostics and treatment of inflammatory skin disorders.

The NHNE 2025 will celebrate its 10th anniversary from May 21–23 at the China Import & Export Fair in Guangzhou, bringing together over 1,000 exhibitors from more than 30 countries. As Asia’s leading health and nutrition exhibition, NHNE fosters innovation, collaboration, and market growth across sectors such as functional foods, dietary supplements, and probiotics. Key highlights include the Future Science Summit, focusing on functional medicine and synthetic biology, and the Nutrition Look Awards, recognizing industry excellence. Co-located with Pharmchina and API China, the event strengthens ties between the pharmaceutical, health, and nutrition industries. The event is organized by Reed Sinopharm Exhibitions.