AdminA Malaysian-developed halal postbiotic science derived from local bioresources including Musang King durians and cabbage has gained recognition across scientific, innovation and industry circles, demonstrating how Malaysian research can translate local resources into globally relevant solutions addressing some of today’s most pressing challenges in health, food systems and antimicrobial resistance.
Co-developed by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Biotenova, this patented postbiotic innovation is licensed to Biotenova, a subsidiary of Pharm-D Health Science (Pharm-D HS) Berhad, together with Pharm-D Health Science as its authorised marketing partner, bringing the innovation to market. It has since received multiple accolades, including the SOBA (Star Outstanding Business Awards) 2025 Silver Award for Best Innovation (RM25mil and above category) and ITEX (International Invention, Innovation & Technology) 2026 Gold Medal and Asian Invention Excellence Award (Lassica K014). Previously, it has also received the Gold Medals in USM Innozilla 2024, Malaysian Technology Expo (MTE) 2023 and the International Conference and Exposition on Inventions by Institutions of Higher Learning (PECIPTA) 2022
The achievements highlight how homegrown science can move beyond the laboratory and deliver practical applications with real-world impact across healthcare, skincare, and animal health.
From durians and cabbages to patented Malaysian intellectual property (IP)
At the heart of this breakthrough are proprietary postbiotic ingredients: LASSICA K014®, ACASEI™ and PLANTACT®, developed by local scientists and commercialised through a strategic partnership with Pharm-D Health Science.
Derived from Malaysian bioresources such as fermented cabbage and fermented Musang King durian, this innovation represents a fully Malaysian, end-to-end development journey: from local raw materials and scientific discovery, research and development, manufacturing to commercialisation.
Brought into real-world use through partnership with Pharm-D Health Science, this local innovation leverages local expertise and research capabilities, while creating opportunities to nurture future generations of Malaysian scientific talent through industry-academia collaboration.
Fully developed and patented in Malaysia, this innovative postbiotic science demonstrates how homegrown science can be transformed into practical solutions with global relevance while strengthening the nation’s innovation ecosystem and intellectual property assets.
Today, this patented postbiotic science has been successfully commercialised spanning healthcare, skincare, oral care, companion animal wellness and agriculture (livestock and aquaculture).
Addressing global health challenges through the one health approach
Designed for cross-sector applications, the postbiotic science embraces the World Health Organization’s (WHO) One Health framework, which recognises the interconnected relationship between human, animal and environmental health.
Its applications extend beyond human wellness into companion animal health and livestock nutrition. By supporting healthier livestock and reducing dependence on antibiotics, the innovation contributes towards improving food quality, food safety and long-term food security.
With demonstrated antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant pathogens, these postbiotic ingredients support global efforts to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as one of the pressing public health challenges faced by the world today.
Adding to the growing body of evidence, a clinical study recently published in the Nutrients scientific journal demonstrated that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K014 (LASSICA K014®) was safe for long-term daily consumption and associated with benefits across multiple physiological systems, including digestive and gastrointestinal health, immune health, and liver function 1.
These findings reinforce the growing potential of postbiotics as a next-generation approach to supporting long-term health and wellbeing.
Translating research into real-world impact through industry-academia collaboration
The success of this innovation reflects the strength of long-term collaboration between industry and academia. Through a strategic partnership between Pharm-D Health Science and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), scientific discoveries made in USM’s laboratories have been successfully translated into commercially viable solutions and brought to market.
Combining USM’s scientific and research expertise with Pharm-D Health Science’s strengths in commercialisation and market access, this partnership demonstrates how Malaysian institutions can work together to bridge the gap between research and industry.
Beyond bringing new technologies to market, the collaboration has also created opportunities to nurture local scientific talent, strengthen Malaysia’s research ecosystem and generate valuable Malaysian intellectual property.
The partnership exemplifies how sustained collaboration between academia and industry can accelerate innovation while ensuring research outcomes deliver meaningful benefits to society, healthcare and the economy.
Advancing Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem
By leveraging local resources, local laboratories and Malaysian expertise, this initiative demonstrates how homegrown innovation can reduce reliance on imported technologies while strengthening national research capabilities.
“This journey demonstrates that world-class innovation can begin at home. By transforming local bioresources into patented technologies with practical applications, we hope to contribute towards positioning Malaysia as a creator of innovation rather than merely a consumer or adopter of it,” said Wong Chin Cheang, Group Managing Director of Pharm-D Health Science.
“This collaboration demonstrates how academic research can be translated into practical innovations that benefit society. By combining USM’s scientific and research expertise with Pharm-D Health Science’s industry and commercialisation capabilities, we have shown that Malaysian institutions can work together to create technologies that strengthen the nation’s research ecosystem, intellectual property assets and future scientific talent,” said Associate Professor Dr Nurzalina Abdul Karim Khan, Dean of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Associate Professor Dr Yusri Yusup, Dean of the School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia also added, “It is exciting to see research from the School of Industrial Technology translated into an innovation with tangible societal and commercial value. This achievement demonstrates the importance of strong collaboration between academia and industry in transforming scientific discoveries into technologies that ultimately benefit society. We hope it will encourage further research translation and strengthen Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem.”
As global healthcare systems increasingly seek sustainable and science-backed solutions, the success of this collaboration highlights Malaysia’s potential not only to consume or adopt innovation, but also to create and lead it.
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