Synbio Tech partners with Cosmax to shake up South Korea’s robust active nutrition and probiotics markets

01 Feb 2023 --- Taiwanese probiotic producer and innovator, Synbio Tech, has signed an agreement to distribute the company’s Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 in South Korea (SK). The exclusive partnership with functional food developer, Cosmax NBT, will allow Synbio Tech to expand into SK’s booming muscle health, healthy aging and active nutrition markets.

Synbio Tech’s probiotic offering was recently approved as an Individual Health Functional Food certification by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of SK.

“Probiotics are one of the most popular health foods among Koreans,” says Kim Sang Woo, VP of Cosmax NBT. “Like red ginseng and vitamins, the market size of probiotics is expected to grow rapidly at an average annual rate of 16%.”

“TWK10 has gradually completed its global launch and expansion with distribution across different continents including Europe, North America, Japan, SK, Southeast Asia and other regions,” states Kuiming Lee, VP of Synbio Tech’s human health department.

The probiotic strain has been to improve muscle health and to aid in healthy aging.“In the years to come, Synbio Tech will continuously deepen the scientific research of TWK10 and further develop innovative probiotic and postbiotic solutions for better health.”

Fermenting health
Strains of Lactobacillus plantarum have been shown to promote healthy digestion, lower LDL cholesterol, relieve stress and anxiety and help reduce some of the symptoms of menopause.

“Strictly selected” from Taiwanese fermented cabbage, SybioTech’s TWK10 strain of Lactobacillus plantarum has been shown in four human clinical trials to have significant effects on gut-muscle axis, with proven impacts on mobility in older adults, muscle mass and overall sports performance.

The strain is also Taiwan’s first probiotic strain to receive a generally recognized as safe, or GRAS, self-affirmed status in the US. Synbio Tech states that it expects the strain to “revolutionize” the functional food and nutraceutical markets, noting that it has seven global patents and has been featured in ten peer-reviewed international journal publications.

“With the synergy of Synbio Tech and Cosmax NBT, we will further collaborate in scientific research and market development of TWK10 in SK,” states Lee. 

“With Synbio Tech’s innovation in R&D and excellent production technology, the partnership will allow us to continuously explore further collaborative projects to bring outstanding products to the SK market,” Woo adds.

Edited by William Bradford Nichols