Speaking to us at the recent Vitafoods Asia show in Singapore, the firm’s Ernest Wang said its products would soon be available in Malaysia, and then Myanmar.
Phermpep was founded in 2015 as a sister company of China Chemical & Pharmaceutical Co to carry out research, development, and the production of novel healthcare materials.
Its products, both beverage sachets and supplements, are based on the company’s fermented milk peptide ingredient KEFPEP, which has recently received self-concluded GRAS status in the US, THIDA Halal certification, and it has been deemed EFSA-compliant.
Wang said these developments would help drive the company’s expansion drive as it seeks to educate consumers of the potential health benefits of kefir.
Heart health
He also pointed to research that showed KEFPEP displayed antihypertensive activities in rat studies, while clinical trials have also demonstrated that it helps lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with prehypertension.
Meanwhile, in ovariectomized rats, the product helped prevent the degeneration of trabecular bone and attenuates the decrease in bone mineral density (BMD).
"The results of our clinical trial indicate that administration of KEFPEP elevates serum Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) and suppresses osteoclast activity. Elevated PTH level then leads to bone formation activation. Therefore, treatment helps maintain and even increase BMD in patients with osteopenia and mild osteoporosis," he said.
Ageing Asia
Watch the video to find out how the company’s retail strategy, the research behind the products and its plans for future studies.
Wang said Asia's rapidly ageing population was opening up new opportunities for the company across the region.
“Based on industry reports, the business value of protein and peptide healthcare source materials is second only to that of probiotics,” he added.
“This is a segment seeing immense growth. Therefore, fermented milk peptides have a very strong potential for functional research and development as well as industry applications.”