MORINAGA-MILK-INDUSTRY
Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:2264), a leading Japanese dairy product company, today announced its proprietary probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 was approved by the National Health Commission (NHC) of the People’s Republic of China as a new food ingredient for use in infant and children foods (under the age of three) on 25 July, 2024. This approval marks a significant milestone for the company, making it the only Japanese firm to have three bifidobacteria strains registered for use in China’s infant and toddler food market1.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240808893280/en/
Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 is a unique probiotic strain of human-residential bifidobacteria (HRB) – bifidobacteria that naturally reside in the human gut – and is renowned for its ability to utilize human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) found in breast milk, significantly improving the intestinal environment of healthy full-term infants. (Graphic: Business Wire)
*1 Source: Public announcement published on the website of the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (August 5, 2024)
The newly registered Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 joins Morinaga Milk’s other approved strains, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and Bifidobacterium longum BB536. All three strains are now permitted for use in foods for children under three years old in China, meeting the country's stringent nutritional and safety standards.
Expanding Global Presence
This approval aligns with Morinaga Milk’s 10-year vision to become a globally recognized company with a significant international presence. As part of this vision, the company aims to achieve a Global Business sales ratio of 15% or more by the fiscal year ending in March 2029. The approval of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 represents a strategic step towards this goal, allowing Morinaga Milk to strengthen its bacteria business in the Chinese market, which accounts for more than 40% of the global formula milk market and is the second-largest supplement market worldwide2.
*2 Source: Survey by Euromonitor International (May 2024), based on retail sales prices
Health Benefits of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63
Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 is a unique probiotic strain of human-residential bifidobacteria (HRB) – bifidobacteria that naturally reside in the human gut – and is renowned for its ability to utilize human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) found in breast milk, significantly improving the intestinal environment of healthy full-term infants. With China's recent approval of HMO use in formula milk in October 20233, the combination of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 and HMO is expected to support the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, enhancing the development and health of infants and toddlers4.
*3 Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, No. 8, 2023 (Sept. 22, 2023)
*4 Source: Mintel, “HMOs approval in China infant formula is a game changer” (Jan. 2024)
Probiotics strain of bifidobacteria registered as New Food Ingredients in China |
|
Strain |
Registration date |
Bifidobacterium breve M-16V Registered name: 短双歧杆菌 M-16V |
2016 |
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BB536 Registered name: 长双歧杆菌长亚种 BB536 |
2022 |
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis M-63 Registered name: 长双歧杆菌婴儿亚种M-63 |
2024 |
* All three strains are approved for use in foods for infants and toddlers under the age of three. |
|
Commitment to Quality and Research
Morinaga Milk has been at the forefront of bifidobacteria research since discovering Bifidobacterium longum BB536 in 1969. The company leads globally in the number of clinical research papers on bifidobacteria, underlining its commitment to advancing scientific understanding and improving public health.
Future Prospects
The registration of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 paves the way for its use in a wide range of products. Morinaga Milk plans to leverage this approval to expand collaborations with major formula milk manufacturers and promote supplements and other related products in China and globally. By providing accurate information on the benefits of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 to consumers and partners, Morinaga Milk aims to enhance the health and nutrition of people worldwide.
About Morinaga Milk Industry
Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. is one of the leading dairy product companies in Japan, with over a century of history in harnessing the nutritional properties of dairy products and functional ingredients. Morinaga Milk is also a key global probiotics manufacturer that excels in innovative technology and offers a premium line of probiotics and functional ingredients worldwide. Since the 1960s, Morinaga Milk has been engaged in research on the safety, functional health benefits, and mechanisms of action of probiotic bifidobacteria to better understand their role in maintaining human health. For more information about Morinaga Human-Residential Bifidobacteria (HRB) probiotics, please visit us at https://morinagamilk-ingredients.com/.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240808893280/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Deciphera Announces Oral Presentation of Positive Topline Results from Phase 2a Study of Sapablursen in Polycythemia Vera at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting6.12.2025 15:30:00 CET | Press release
Results from Phase 2a IMPRSSION study demonstrate sapablursen significantly reduced phlebotomy rate, controlled hematocrit and increased serum hepcidin Sapablursen was generally safe and well tolerated Results support further development of sapablursen in a Phase 3 study Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, a member of Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President and COO: Toichi Takino; “Ono”), today announced the oral presentation of positive results from the Phase 2a IMPRSSION study of sapablursen in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, taking place December 6-9, 2025, in Orlando, FL. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251206361611/en/ The results were presented by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, who discovered and developed sapablursen and conducted the IMPRSSION study. In March 2025, Ionis and Ono entered into a license agreement in which On
Protagonist and Takeda Present Longer-Term Data at ASH 2025 Showing Rusfertide Delivers Durable Response and Hematocrit Control in Polycythemia Vera6.12.2025 15:30:00 CET | Press release
52-Week Results from the Phase 3 VERIFY Study of Rusfertide Demonstrated Sustained Hematocrit Control and Response, Defined by Absence of Phlebotomy Eligibility, with No New Safety SignalsThese Data Build on Positive 32-Week Primary Analysis from VERIFY, Which Met its Primary Efficacy Endpoint and All Four Key Secondary EndpointsPatients Crossing Over from Placebo to Rusfertide at 32 Weeks Achieved a Similar Response Rate to Those Initially Randomized to Rusfertide, with 77.9% Achieving Absence of Phlebotomy Eligibility Between Weeks 40-52Four-Year Results from the Combined REVIVE and Long-Term Extension THRIVE Study Demonstrated a 13-Fold Reduction in Annual Rate of Phlebotomies from Baseline Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (“Protagonist”) (NASDAQ:PTGX) and Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) announce that new 52-week results from the pivotal Phase 3 VERIFY study evaluating rusfertide in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) will be presented in an oral presentation at the 67th American Society
Vertex Presents New Data on CASGEVY®, Including First-Ever Data in Children Ages 5-11 Years, at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Announces Plan for Global Regulatory Submissions6.12.2025 13:01:00 CET | Press release
- Data from pivotal studies of CASGEVY in children ages 5-11 years with severe sickle cell disease or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia demonstrates the transformative potential of the therapy in younger patients -- Efficacy and safety data in children 5-11 years are consistent with the durable and positive benefit/risk profile established from clinical studies in patients 12 years of age and older -- Vertex expects to initiate global regulatory submissions for CASGEVY in children 5-11 years in 1H 2026 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced data from multiple studies demonstrating the clinical benefits of CASGEVY® (exagamglogene autotemcel) in people ages 5 years and older living with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). The results, including the first presentation of clinical data from pivotal studies in children ages 5-11 years, and longer-term data from the pivotal studies of people with severe SCD and
Leading Global Scientists Gather at Tengchong Scientists Forum to Explore Innovative Pathways in Frontier Technologies6.12.2025 12:31:00 CET | Press release
The 2025 Tengchong Scientists Forum opened on Saturday in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, convening leading scientists and academic figures to examine innovation across frontier fields including artificial intelligence, biodiversity and quantum technology. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251205499197/en/ Opening ceremony of Tengchong Scientists Forum on 6th December, 2025 Notable participants include Nobel Physics laureate Konstantin Novoselov, Fields Medalist Efim Zelmanov and Turing Award winner Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, who join 127 academicians, 77 university presidents from China and abroad, over 400 scholars and more than 600 entrepreneurs and financiers. The gathering aims to deepen collaboration between cutting-edge research and industrial development. Under the theme “Science · AI changing the World,” the forum features ten sub-forums, academic sessions and thematic events supporting major cooperation p
Lattice Wins 2025 Global Semiconductor Alliance Award6.12.2025 00:49:00 CET | Press release
‒ Named Most Respected Public Semiconductor Company Achieving $100 Million to $500 Million in Annual Sales ‒ Lattice Semiconductor (NASDAQ: LSCC), the low power programmable leader, today announced that it was selected as ‘Most Respected Public Semiconductor Company’ at the 2025 Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) Awards. The GSA awards recognize companies that have demonstrated excellence through their success, vision, strategy, and future opportunities in the industry as determined by votes from GSA members. “We are honored to be recognized by the Global Semiconductor Alliance and our peers as one of 2025’s most respected public semiconductor companies. This recognition reflects the dedication of the Lattice team and the trust of our customers, partners, suppliers, and investors. Looking ahead, we remain laser-focused on driving innovation and strengthening our role as the trusted low power programmable leader for semiconductor and system solutions,” said Ford Tamer, Chief Executive
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom