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Bora Health has announced its merger with Sunway Biotech to produce an ingredient – Ankascin 568-R – used for the formulation of dietary supplements and fortified foods. Bora Health, part of Bora Group, offers experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare and nutraceutical products across the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, encompassing research and development, as well as sales and distribution. Founded in 2007, Sunway Biotech is a Taiwanese research and development centre for health food and ingredients. According to the companies, the collaboration has led to Bora Pharmaceuticals, the parent company of Bora Health, becoming the largest shareholder in Sunway Biotech. Sunway Biotech will provide Bora Group access to a full suite of fermentation and extraction facilities equipped with research and development and analytical capabilities. Through the partnership, Bora's contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) business can utilise Sunway's yeast manufacturing technology at its Taipei, Taiwan, facility to produce Ankascin 568-R, an ingredient used in the creation of dietary supplements and fortified foods for its global customers. Ankascin 568-R is extracted from the fermentation of a patented functional red yeast strain known as Monascus purpureus NTU 568. It is said to be the only FDA-approved red yeast ingredient available in the US market that excludes the "controversial" statin drug monacolin K (Lovastatin). Ankascin 568-R supports blood glucose regulation, cardiovascular well-being, memory, cognitive health and promoting healthy ageing. Bobby Sheng, CEO of Bora Group, said: “The global nutraceuticals market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.4% by 2030. This growth is fuelled by consumers increasingly turning to nutraceuticals for their proven health benefits.” He continued: “We’re thrilled to now have the controlling interest in Sunway Biotech, giving us access to technology that manufactures Ankascin 568-R and Vigiis101-LAB. As we continue to grow our service range as a CDMO, we are excited to be entering the supplements market. With Sunway’s fermentation know-how, not only will we have a unique patented ingredient in Ankascin 568-R, we will also be able to create products for the growing prebiotic, probiotic and postbiotic market.”

“Simon Chang will act as vice chairman of Sunway, and CEO John Pan will continue to lead operations for Sunway Biotech.”