KIRIN-HOLDINGS
11.5.2023 07:54:33 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
Nagasaki University presented the results of a specified clinical trial on patients with COVID-19 using Lactococcus. lactis strain Plasma*1 (L.lactis Plasma, a postbiotic), researched and developed by Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (Kirin Holdings). The results of this research was presented at the 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Respiratory Society on Sunday, April 30. Nagasaki University and Kirin Holdings have jointly filed a patent application for the findings of this specified clinical trial.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230510005547/en/
Specified Clinical Research Contents (Graphic: Business Wire)
1 Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM 5805 is owned by the RIKEN BioResource Research Center (https://web.brc.riken.jp/en/)
- Current status of COVID-19
Since December 2019, COVID-19 infections have repeatedly caused pandemics, infecting 676.57 million people worldwide and killing 6.88 million (as of March 10, 2023). With the emergence of Omicron variants, the number of cases in Japan has increased, and the COVID-19 has become a more familiar infectious disease. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have introduced widely and patients with mild illnesses account for a large proportion of the affected population, only a limited number of drugs are available in patients with mild illnesses who are not at risk of developing severe illnesses, and treatment is mainly based on symptomatic therapy.*2 Therefore, there is eagerly awaited for an easily accessible, safe, and effective treatment for COVID-19 in the community.
- What is L. lactis strain Plasma?
L. lactis strain Plasma was discovered by Kirin in 2010 as a lactic acid bacteria that activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), which are a leader of the immune system. Previous basic studies showed that L.lactis Plasma stimulated pDC to have a first-line defense to viral infectious diseases. Previous clinical studies have also shown that L.lactis Plasma stimulated pDC and suppress the onset of an illness from influenza virus, rotavirus, and dengue. These scientific evidence of its immune function brought L. lactis Plasma registered as the first*4 Food with Functional Claims in Japan on August 2020.
- Specified Clinical Research Contents
Based on the results of Kirin Holdings’ research on L. lactis Plasma, Nagasaki University, as a research institute with significant achievements in the field of infectious diseases, interested in L. lactis strain Plasma which may effect in relieving symptoms in patientis with COVID-19, and has decided to conduct a specified clinical trial from December 2021.
Since December 2021, Kirin Holdings has been engaged in a specific clinical research project led by Dr. Kazuko Yamamoto, a lecturer at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital (currently a professor and chair at the Division of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory and Gastroenterological Medicine (First Department of Internal Medicine), University of the Ryukyus Graduate School of Medicine). This is a multicenter, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial conducted at Nagasaki University Hospital as a core facility. The efficacy and safety of 14 days oral intake of 4 hard capsules containing L. lactis Plasma (400 billion L. lactis Plasma in total) or 4 hard capsules without L. lactis Plasma (placebo) was to be evaluated*5 by having 50 patients with COVID-19 in each group.
2 Approach to Pharmacotherapy for COVID-19 Version 15.1- the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases
3 Secrets of Immunity - Kirin's L. lactis strain Plasma Research https://health.kirin.co.jp/en/about/about.html
4 The first brand in Japan to be registered with the Consumer Affairs Agency as a food with a functional claims for immune function.
5 Yamamoto K, et al. BMJ Open 2022;12:e061172
- Specified Clinical Trial Results
1, Change in subjective symptom overall score (primary endpoint)
The results of an overall score analysis of seven subjective symptoms (Cough, Shortness of breath, fatigue, Headaches, Anosmia and Dysgeusia, Anorexia, and Chest pain) on a 4-point scale (0 points: not affected, 1 points: little effect, 2 points: affected, 3 points: severely affected) showed no difference between the two groups.
2, Anosmia and Dysgeusia (secondary endpoints) (Graph1)
The percentage of patients who scored 0 (not affected) for smell and taste dysfunction among subjective symptoms were high in the L. lactis strain Plasma group compared to placebo group after day 9.
3, Percent change in blood pDC (secondary endpoint) (Graph2)
While the placebo group showed a significant decrease in % pDC in the blood during COVID-19 clinical course, the L. lactis strain Plasma group maintained % pDC in the blood.
4, Percent change in SARS-CoV-2 viral load (secondary endpoint) (Graph3)
The L. lactis strain Plasma group showed a significant reduction of SARS-CoV-2 viral load at day 4 of treatment whereas placebo group showed reduction at day 8.
5, Safety and adverse events
No critical adverse events of safety were observed in this study.
Although this study did not show an effect on the primary endpoint, the subjective symptom total score, these results suggested that maintained pDC by the intake of L. lactis strain Plasma may have resulted in an early reduction of SARS-CoV-2 and early recovery of smell and taste dysfunction.
Nagasaki University and Kirin hope that L. lactis Plasma will become one of the new treatment or adjunctive care to patients with mild COVID-19.
About Kirin Holdings
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is an international company that operates in the Food & Beverages domain (Food & Beverages businesses), Pharmaceuticals domain (Pharmaceuticals businesses), and Health Science domain (Health Science business), both in Japan and across the globe.
Kirin Holdings can trace its roots to Japan Brewery which was established in 1885. Japan Brewery became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, the company expanded its business with fermentation and biotechnology as its core technologies, and entered the pharmaceutical business in the 1980s, all of which continue to be global growth centers. In 2007, Kirin Holdings was established as a pure holding company and is currently focusing on boosting its Health Science domain.
Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV 2027), a long-term management plan launched in 2019, the Kirin Group aims to become A global leader in CSV*, creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals. Going forward, the Kirin Group will continue to leverage its strengths to create both social and economic value through its businesses, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth in corporate value.
* Creating Shared Value. Combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.
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/20230510005547/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
Incyte Announces New Positive 54-Week Late-Breaking Data for Povorcitinib in Hidradenitis Suppurativa at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting28.3.2026 20:00:00 CET | Press release
Phase 3 data from the STOP-HS program demonstrate povorcitinib’s substantial and durable clinical efficacy through Week 54 in patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Through Week 54, clinically meaningful and durable responses were observed across all groups in both STOP-HS1 and STOP-HS2, with up to 71.4% of patients achieving HiSCR50. Improvements in clinical responses across high stringent thresholds were observed, with up to 57% of participants achieving HiSCR75 and up to 29% of participants achieving HiSCR100. Povorcitinib treatment led to consistent reductions across key inflammatory lesion types, with full resolution (ANdT=0) achieved in up to 20% of patients. Additionally, clinically meaningful improvements in quality-of-life measures, including skin pain and fatigue, were observed at Week 54. The overall safety profile of povorcitinib through 54 weeks is consistent with previously reported data, and both doses were well tolerated. Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) to
Takeda’s Zasocitinib Delivered Rapid and Durable Skin Clearance in a Convenient Once-Daily Pill, Affirming Promise to Reshape Psoriasis Care28.3.2026 20:00:00 CET | Press release
About 70% of patients treated with zasocitinib achieved clear or almost clear skin (sPGA 0/1) at week 16 in Phase 3 plaque psoriasis studies A significantly greater PASI 75 response rate versus placebo was observed as early as week 4 Safety profile consistent with Phase 2b studies with no new safety signals identified Takeda(TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK)today announced new data from the two pivotal Phase 3studies of zasocitinib (TAK-279), a next-generation, highly selective oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO).1 Presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, these data show that convenient once-daily oral zasocitinib demonstrated rapid and durable skin clearance with a safety profile consistent with Phase 2b studies.1,2 “Our goal in psoriasis treatment is clear or almost clear skin, and previously this has been achieved primarily with injectable therapies,” said Melinda Gooderham,
AAD 2026: Late-Breaking Nemolizumab Data Demonstrate Clinically Meaningful Benefits for Children Aged 2 to 11 With Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis28.3.2026 16:00:00 CET | Press release
Pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy clinical study data show that nemolizumab achieved clinically meaningful reductions in skin lesions and itch through Week 16, which were sustained up to a year in children aged 2 to 11 with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis1 These findings reinforce the previously established safety and efficacy of nemolizumab in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, for which it is approved by multiple global regulatory authorities2,3 Up to 25% of children are affected by atopic dermatitis, and currently there are limited approved treatment options for children living with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis4,5 Galderma (SIX: GALD) today announced new phase II data showing that nemolizumab was well tolerated and effective in children (aged 2 to 11 years) with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, with a clinically meaningful and sustained reduction in skin lesions and itch for up to a year.1 Results will be presented in a late-break
Angelalign Technology (6699.HK)Releases 2025 Results: Passion for Clinical Excellence Drives Worldwide Growth27.3.2026 20:56:00 CET | Press release
Angelalign Technology Inc. (6699.HK) (“Angel” or the “Company”) released its financial results for fiscal year 2025. During the reporting period, the Company continued to do well in both the global and China markets. Total case volume was 532,400, which increased 48.1%, revenue was USD 370.3 million, which increased 37.8%, and adjusted net profit was USD 43.8 million, which increased 63.0%. The results were driven by Angel’s passion for clinical excellence and its open and inclusive culture that empowers talented people to work together to meet customer needs, the Company said. Fox Hu, CEO of Angel, stated: “The clear aligner industry is complex and multidisciplinary. It requires top-tier technical and operational talent along with seamless collaboration among professionals from diverse geographies. Angel’s open and inclusive culture attracts professionals who share a passion for clinical excellence and a dedication to bringing outstanding products and services to customers. This melti
Axway Positioned as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide API Management 2026 Vendor Assessment27.3.2026 18:46:00 CET | Press release
Axway, a 74Software company (Euronext: 74SW) and global leader in federated API management and enterprise integration, has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide API Management 2026 Vendor Assessment.1 Axway Amplify securely connects, orchestrates, and automates data integration. Organizations in financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and other industries rely on Amplify to modernize integrations and confidently unlock data to deliver superior digital services faster. The report notes: “The platform benefits from Axway’s long-standing experience in B2B integration, secure file transfer, and legacy connectivity, providing differentiated capabilities for organizations that need to expose and control APIs around core systems that are not cloud-native.”1 This multi-pattern expertise in security, integration, and federated governance — built during the early phases of the API-driven digital transformation — becomes especially critical as enterprises seek to govern dat
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