ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Ltd. and Metagen Inc. begin joint research to evaluate the impact of natural ingredients on the intestinal environment

Research Overview

Recently, the number of people suffering from everyday ailments such as stiff shoulders, headaches, and swelling has been increasing, leading to a decline in quality of life.
Therefore, we will begin joint research to establish an approach tailored to each individual's intestinal environment using natural ingredients such as Chinese herbal medicine, with the aim of improving everyday ailments and physical constitutions.
In this project, Metagen's in vitro human stool culture evaluation system, "MGScreening™," will be used to simultaneously evaluate over a dozen types of natural ingredients, including herbal medicines, to comprehensively evaluate the effects of natural ingredients on the intestinal environment. MGScreening™ performs in vitro culture using multiple stool samples provided by different Japanese individuals, making it possible to verify individual-specific variations.
Furthermore, in the above joint research, Metagene plans to collaborate with Fujita Health University to conduct scientific analysis with an eye toward future potential clinical applications.

Background

In 2024, Rohto Pharmaceutical, in collaboration with Mitsui & Co. and others, acquired shares in Eu Yan Sang (Eu Yan Sang International Ltd., headquartered in Singapore, hereinafter referred to as "EYS"), a Singaporean herbal medicine manufacturer and distributor company. As one of the means to realize innovative business in the healthcare business, EYS's strong product and brand strength in Asia and Rohto Pharmaceutical's R&D and sales capabilities will be conducted with Metagen to evaluate the impact of naturally derived ingredients such as Chinese herbal medicine on the intestinal environment.

Future outlook

Through this initiative, if we can use Metagen's proprietary technology, Metabologenomics®, to clarify the relationship between natural ingredients such as herbal medicines and the intestinal microbiota, we believe we may be able to get closer to the root of the idea that food is medicine. Furthermore, by cataloging the details of intestinal microbiota changes caused by natural ingredients, we hope to obtain basic data for stratified healthcare tailored to each individual's intestinal environment and for realizing Gut Design®, which appropriately controls the intestinal environment.

Metagene Co., Ltd. Company Profile

Business details

With a mission to "make gut-friendly healthcare commonplace," the MetaGen Group aims to achieve "zero disease" through an approach based on the concept of Gut Design®. We offer research and development support services utilizing our proprietary gut environment evaluation technology, "Metabologenomics®," to comprehensively understand the function of the gut environment. We also offer stratified healthcare services leveraging the databases based on this technology and the knowledge of experts in gut environment research cultivated in academia. We provide comprehensive support for gut environment research and its social implementation, from test planning to data interpretation and analysis, and even business proposals. We also operate the "Gut Design Co-Creation Project," a corporate collaboration community aimed at spreading the concept of Gut Design® and co-creating a "Gut Design Market." As of November 2024, 40 companies are participating. We also operate "onakademy," an owned media platform aimed at disseminating accurate knowledge about the gut environment and helping people find their own core healthcare goals.

Overview of Fujita Gakuen Educational Corporation