Bifido, Patent Granted for Oral Disease Improvement Using Proprietary Probiotic Development

Bifido, the first listed company in the microbiome field, announced on the 13th that a patent has been granted for a composition developed with its proprietary probiotics that can improve, prevent, and treat oral diseases.

The patent titled “Composition for improving, preventing, or treating oral diseases containing Lactobacillus gasseri HHuMIN D and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei OK complex strains” is based on strains developed through Bifido’s unique Microbiome Acceleration Platform (MAP).

Using MAP technology, Bifido selects beneficial bacteria from various samples and discovers strains with verified functionality and safety. This patent was registered just two months after its application in July, demonstrating the speed and efficiency of the process.

The oral cavity hosts a diverse microbiome consisting of beneficial bacteria that protect health and harmful bacteria that can cause diseases. When this balance is disrupted, harmful bacteria can excessively proliferate, causing bad breath and various oral diseases, which may cause discomfort to others.

Since the oral cavity serves as the entry point to both the digestive and respiratory systems and plays a crucial role in overall health, maintaining the health of the oral microbiome is essential not only for alleviating bad breath but also for managing systemic health. In this context, consumer interest in products that can improve oral health is rapidly increasing.

Accordingly, Bifido selected two strains from its probiotic library that exhibit excellent antibacterial effects against harmful oral bacteria. These strains are expected to help maintain the balance of the oral microbiome and promote oral health.

Bifido’s research demonstrated that the 'OK complex strain' inhibits the adhesion and growth of bacteria that cause bad breath and reduces the expression of the mgl gene related to the metabolism of volatile sulfur compounds in harmful bacteria, thereby contributing to the improvement of bad breath.

According to experimental results, the expression of the mgl gene in bad breath-causing bacteria decreased by 60% when treated solely with Lactobacillus gasseri HHuMIN D and by 86% when treated solely with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei OK. Notably, when the two strains were mixed in a 1:1 ratio as a complex strain, the expression of the mgl gene decreased by up to 98%, showing that the complex strain is significantly more effective at eliminating bad breath than single strains. This proves that combining the two strains maximizes the effect of bad breath improvement. Based on this, a human application test conducted at Dankook University Dental Hospital confirmed that the experimental group consuming this material showed a significant reduction in volatile sulfur compound concentration compared to the control group.

Based on this patent, Bifido is conducting research aiming to register the ingredient as an individually recognized functional raw material with bad breath alleviation functionality. Additionally, the company is building a development pipeline for various functional materials, including body fat reduction, immune enhancement, and cognitive function improvement. The company announced plans to apply for approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the registration of the individually recognized raw material for bad breath alleviation within this year.

A Bifido representative stated, “Currently, oral-related products on the market are limited to processed foods containing oral probiotics. Bifido is pushing beyond this to develop more specialized individually recognized health functional foods. The registration of this patent will be an important leap in pioneering a new market and a significant turning point in setting new standards in the oral health management market.”

Meanwhile, Bifido disclosed that on the same day, Hwanin Pharm, a KOSPI-listed company, acquired a 30% stake, becoming the largest shareholder. A Bifido representative said, “The acquisition was based on trust in our growth potential, and we will explore various ways to maximize synergy across probiotics and pharmaceutical businesses by combining the strengths of both companies.”