Biotherapy Development Research Center

What Biotherapy Development Research Center does

Biotherapy Development Research Center Co., Ltd. (株式会社バイオセラピー開発研究センター) is a privately held Japanese biotechnology research firm founded on April 27, 2006 and headquartered in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. The company specializes in the research and development of natural functional ingredients for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications, with an explicit focus on novel bioactive compounds not yet commercially available. Its scientific foundation is an academic research partnership with Kanazawa University Medical System Environmental Health Science Research Laboratory under Prof. Tomihisa Ota (Ph.D. in Pharmacy, Emeritus Professor), whose expertise in bioactive natural product isolation, structural analysis, metabolic enzyme regulation, and anti-stress compound discovery underpins the firm's R&D pipeline.

The company's core commercial outputs center on two patented ingredient platforms: Kinjisou (Gynura bicolor / Suizenjina), a traditional Ishikawa and Okinawan vegetable with documented blood sugar control, blood pressure suppression, and antioxidant (anti-aging) functions, protected by two granted Japanese patents (Nos. 5111725 and 5593349); and Strawberry Polyphenol, an extract offering antioxidant, anti-obesity, skin-whitening, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergy functions, protected by Patent No. 5856728. Beyond raw material supply, the firm has expanded into processed consumer food products including Kinjisou Salad and Kinjisou Vinegared Dish, both sold via the corporate website. Ancillary service offerings include commissioned R&D, functional evaluation (safety and efficacy) for food and cosmetics, and magazine/book publishing related to ingredient research.

Revenue is generated through a direct B2B sales motion targeting enterprise customers in food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, supplemented by a nascent B2C consumer food line. Customer acquisition is conducted via phone, email, and a website inquiry form with a 3-business-day response SLA. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held, has no disclosed external funding, and reports 1-10 employees with 20,000,000 JPY in registered capital. Geographic operations are Japan-only, with no disclosed international distribution or licensing activity.

Name

Biotherapy Development Research Center

Legal name

株式会社バイオセラピー開発研究センター

Website

https://biotherapy.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Biotherapy Development Research Center is a Kanazawa-based Japanese biotech firm that researches and develops novel natural functional ingredients, notably Kinjisou (Gynura bicolor) and Strawberry Polyphenol, for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic companies via a Kanazawa University academic partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology Research Services

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals & Specialty Bioactives (EUAAAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Herbal & Botanical Supplements (CRADAGAD)

Keywords

• Natural ingredient research
• Functional food development
• Biotechnology R&D services
• Plant extract ingredients
• Contract research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kanazawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Raw material research and development: Research and development of biotech-based food and pharmaceutical materials and ingredients, including novel functional ingredient development not yet in the market.
2. Commissioned R&D services: Contracted research services for efficacy and safety evaluation of food and pharmaceutical materials.
3. Functional food development: Development and commercialization of functional food products incorporating proprietary natural ingredients.
4. Functional evaluation services: Efficacy and safety evaluation services for food and cosmetics.
5. Magazine and book publishing: Publishing activities related to food and pharmaceutical ingredient research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Biotherapy Development Research Center is a Kanazawa-based biotechnology R&D company that develops natural ingredients for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. Its core work includes the research and development of novel functional raw materials (notably Kinjisou/Gynura bicolor and Strawberry Polyphenol extracts), commissioned efficacy and safety evaluation services, and the development and commercialization of functional food products incorporating its proprietary natural ingredients.

Product overview

Biotherapy Development Research Center is a biotechnology research and development company specializing in natural ingredients for health and longevity applications. The company operates as both a raw material supplier and product developer, offering two main product lines: (1) Functional ingredient powders and extracts including Strawberry Polyphenol (イチゴポリフェノール) and Kinjisou powder (金時草), both with documented health benefits such as antioxidant, blood sugar control, and blood pressure management properties; and (2) Processed food products including Kinjisou Salad (金時草サラダ) and Kinjisou Vinegared Dish (金時草酢の物) made from traditional Ishikawa vegetables. The company also provides contract research and development services for raw materials, functional food development, and product commercialization support for food, cosmetics, and daily-use products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strawberry Polyphenol (Ichigo Polyphenol) Polyphenol-rich extract derived from strawberry fruit, available in liquid extract or powder form (SD, FD), with documented antioxidant, anti-obesity, skin-whitening (melanin suppression), anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, and natural fragrance properties. Sold as a functional raw material to food manufacturers, cosmetics companies, and pharmaceutical firms for product formulation.
• Kinjisou (Gynura bicolor) Powder Powdered raw material derived from the traditional vegetable Kinjisou (Gynura bicolor), containing GABA and polyphenols, with documented blood sugar control, blood pressure suppression, and strong antioxidant (anti-aging) functions. Sold to food, cosmetics, and daily-use product manufacturers as a natural functional ingredient.
• Kinjisou Salad Ready-to-eat salad product made with traditional Ishikawa vegetable Kinjisou (Gynura bicolor), featuring vibrant purple and green colors, crisp texture, and mucilaginous quality with gentle flavor suitable for daily meals.
• Kinjisou Vinegared Dish (Kinjisou Irodori Sunomono) Vinegared dish product featuring traditional Ishikawa vegetable Kinjisou (Gynura bicolor), with vibrant purple color, crisp texture, mucilaginous quality, balanced acidity, and refreshing aftertaste, suitable as a side dish or accompaniment for fried foods and meat dishes.
• Commissioned R&D Services Contract research services for efficacy and safety evaluation of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic materials. Includes commissioned evaluation of natural ingredients and functional food development support for business customers.
• Functional Evaluation Services Efficacy and safety evaluation services for food and cosmetics, providing comprehensive in-house testing capabilities for natural ingredients and finished products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Blood sugar control function documented in Kinjisou
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kanazawa University Medical System Environmental Health Science Research Laboratory (金沢大学医学系 環境健康科学研究室)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership with Kanazawa University's Environmental Health Science Research Laboratory, led by Prof. Tomihisa Ota (Emeritus Professor). The lab serves as the scientific research foundation for the company's natural ingredient development, providing academic rigor and credibility to the R&D process. Prof. Ota holds expertise in bioactive natural product isolation, structural analysis, metabolic enzyme regulation, and anti-stress functional compound discovery.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Morinaga & Co., Ltd. Major Japanese confectionery and functional food company with a portfolio of health-oriented products (e.g., collagen, functional jellies). Comparable in serving the Japanese health and longevity consumer with functional food formats.
• Fancl Corporation: Japanese supplements and skincare company built around proprietary functional ingredients and additive-free formulations. Comparable as a Japanese natural-ingredient-led health and cosmetics brand with vertical ingredient control.
• Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd. Established Japanese manufacturer of functional food ingredients (e.g., indigestible dextrin, tea polyphenols, sunflower lecithin). Operates across the same functional food ingredient category as Biotherapy but at much greater scale and with a broader ingredient portfolio.
• Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. Japanese functional dairy and probiotic leader. Comparable as a Japan-based functional health product company with strong scientific claims and B2B ingredient-style R&D applied to consumer health products.
• Kaneka Corporation: Japanese chemical and life science company with functional food ingredients, supplements (e.g., CoQ10, reduced coenzyme Q10), and biotech materials. Comparable as a Japan-based ingredient innovator with food, pharma, and cosmetic applications.
• Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Large Japanese pharmaceutical and nutraceutical company with a portfolio of functional foods, OTC pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Comparable in bridging natural ingredient science with food, pharma, and cosmetic end-products, though at a much larger scale.
• Fuji Oil Holdings Inc. Large Japanese plant-based ingredient company producing soy proteins, emulsifiers, and specialty fats. Comparable as a Japan-headquartered plant-derived functional ingredient supplier serving food and nutrition customers, though significantly larger and more diversified.

Direct peers

• House Wellness Foods Corporation: Japanese functional food manufacturer and ingredient developer within House Foods Group, focused on health-functional ingredients and supplements. Directly comparable as a Japanese functional food/ingredient player targeting health and longevity use cases.
• Oryza Oil & Fat Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. Japan-based specialist in plant-derived functional ingredients and natural compounds for food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. Comparable in scale and focus as a small Japanese botanical/natural ingredient R&D supplier with proprietary extracts.

Emerging players

• Euglena Co., Ltd. Japanese emerging player commercializing microalgae-based functional ingredients and supplements. Comparable as a smaller, science-driven Japanese company developing novel natural bioactives into food and supplement products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Biotherapy Development Research Center