Economic Observer Exclusive Interview | Chen Juan of MoonEn Biotechnology: Decoding the "Chip" Logic and Cross-border Innovation Path of the Microbial Industry
Editor's Note: Reprinted from our partner Moon Bio technology
The following article is from MoonBio Health, written by Xiaomu.
Based on this strain library, we have established a complete industrialization technology system from the discovery of microorganisms to their screening, modification, and application. Similarly, relying on this strain library, we can also establish our own technological moat in terms of patent layout and innovative products, thereby accelerating the progress of our product research and development and improving the quality of our products.
Economic Observer: Moon Biotech's business covers three major fields: biobased agriculture, biomedicine, and functional food. It has also formed strategic partnerships with several enterprises. What is the underlying logic behind this cross-industry layout?
◇ Chen Juan:The core logic of Moon Bio lies in tapping the industrialization potential of microorganisms and developing products in the fields of medicine, agriculture, and functional foods through strain technology. Since establishing the microbial technology platform in 2015, we have established differentiated screening and development logic in multiple scenarios, forming a scalable technical foundation. We adopt the "technology empowerment + ecological cooperation" model, focusing on strain research and technological innovation. Our partners are responsible for application transformation and market promotion. This division of labor can maximize the advantages of all parties.
At present, a microbial technology matrix covering fields such as medicine, agriculture, food, cosmetics, and environmental protection has been established. Through continuous optimization of the strain library and technology platform, we are achieving efficient transformation from the laboratory to industrialization. In the future, we will further deepen the construction of the microbial technology platform and explore more innovative application scenarios.
Economic Observer: Among the functional probiotic products/technologies on display this time, what is the most groundbreaking innovation?
◇ Chen Juan: The second-generation probiotic raw material we brought to this exhibition - AKK bacteria (Acidophilus Kluyveri), is quite different from the first-generation probiotics found in traditional yogurt. The second-generation probiotics are active microorganisms that can prevent or treat specific diseases at an adequate dosage. AKK bacteria has been supported by over 1,500 scientific papers, with the most research focused on obesity, diabetes management, and anti-aging. Our team selected one strain that has particularly effective results in weight loss, lowering blood sugar, and reducing blood lipids. We also applied for 10 patents both domestically and internationally for this strain, and independently developed the mass spectrometry identification technology for the active protein Amuc_1100, which can ensure the strongest activity of the functional substances at the same number of bacteria.
In terms of production, we have also successfully developed a process for ultra-high-purity bacterial powder with a production capacity of over one trillion units. The stability of this product has been achieved for two years. Although these raw materials are currently mainly imported through cross-border e-commerce, we have developed them using pharmaceutical standards. In the future, we hope to enable domestic live bacterial raw materials to truly reach the international technological frontier. In short, the second-generation probiotics are not ordinary probiotics; they are "live bacterial drugs" specifically for metabolic diseases. From research and development to production, it is more like developing medicine rather than food.
Economic Observer: What are the differences in the R&D approach of Moon Biotech compared to its peers?
◇ Chen Juan:The differentiation in the field of probiotics mainly lies in the biomedical background. We have already obtained clinical approval from the FDA for two live bacterial drugs, one for tumors and the other for metabolic diseases. This drug development logic also extends to food development: using over 80 cell and animal models to screen bacterial strains, and then verifying the efficacy through human clinical trials. This approach places greater emphasis on scientific evidence compared to ordinary food companies.
We have two "moats". The first one is the world's largest AKK strain repository, with over 222 strains of AKK bacteria stored. We have conducted genome comparison analysis on 123 strains of AKK bacteria globally, and the functional gene differences are clearly visible. The second one is the DREAM technology platform, which covers the entire chain from strain discovery, efficacy research to application development. For example, in the production of AKK bacteria, we use mass spectrometry identification technology to ensure the content of active substances, and can achieve stable production of trillion-level bacterial powder for two years.
In terms of industrialization, Moon Biotech has a 8,000-square-meter pilot plant in Guangzhou, a 50-acre Phase I microbial preparation production base in Hunan, and is also planning a probiotic intelligent factory in Chengdu. In short, others produce probiotics like making food, while we are more like applying the standards of making medicine to produce live bacterial raw materials. The entire production chain, from screening to mass production, is more rigorous.
Economic Observer: What do you think will be the most disruptive innovation in the field of functional probiotics in the next five years? And what role do you believe Moon Biotechnology will play in this?
◇ Chen Juan: The disruptive innovation of functional probiotics should be incorporating the pharmaceutical development logic into food development. In simple terms, it involves selecting bacterial strains by replicating the process used in developing live bacterial drugs, using clinical-grade cell models, animal experiments, and even clinical trials to verify efficacy, rather than relying on concept hype. For different functional directions such as metabolic diseases or mood regulation, specific targets need to be selected to screen the bacterial strains, and finally, solid scientific and clinical data should be presented.
We hope that Muen Biotech will have the opportunity to become the standard-setter in this field. We have the world's largest AKK strain library and have established an exclusive DREAM technology platform, covering the entire process from strain discovery to efficacy verification. For example, when we select AKK strains, we not only consider their effect on lowering blood sugar, but also measure the expression level of active proteins, using mass spectrometry technology to ensure the consistency of each batch of products. This pharmaceutical-grade rigorous attitude can make functional probiotics truly transform from "superstition" to a scientifically based consumer product. We hope to set higher industry standards, so that the market can get rid of false advertising and return to competition based on product strength.
