Ergothioneine Ignites a Fierce Market Battle: 11 Companies Compete in a New Blue Ocean as National Applications Surge
Bloomage Biotech
Developer of bioactive substance products, producer of hyaluronic acid raw materials
Editor's Note: Knocking on the "Raw Material Door" of Biomanufacturing
Biomanufacturing technology is no longer confined to scientific papers in laboratories; it is transforming into a tangible force reshaping the global industrial landscape at an unprecedented pace. The concrete manifestation of this silent revolution is often not a grand concept, but specific “raw materials”—which are moving from behind the scenes to the forefront, quietly defining the future of numerous industries ranging from cosmetics and health supplements to pharmaceuticals.
To systematically gain insights into this wave, we are officially launching the “Panoramic View of Core Raw Materials in Biomanufacturing” series of reports and brief analyses. We firmly believe that these star raw materials, which have achieved breakthroughs through biomanufacturing technologies, represent the optimal lens for observing industrial development. Their stories interweave complex narratives of technology, capital, policy, and market dynamics, serving as the key to decoding the underlying logic of the entire biomanufacturing industry.
In this series, we will delve into the industrial heartlands of these “star ingredients” one by one: exploring how they evolve from scientists’ concepts to corporate fermentation tanks, and ultimately become products in consumers’ hands. We will analyze the pros and cons of technological pathways, the progress of capacity building, and the real-world status of commercialization. Most critically, we will seek to answer who has established competitive barriers and where the next explosive opportunities lie.
Recently, according to information from the National Health Commission’s government service platform,From10Month29Days11Month3Recently, ergothioneine in6within days2Accepted by the National Health Commission as a new food raw material.
Prior to this, according to VCBeat’s analysis,1Month24Day,2Month10Day,7Month9Day,7Month18Day,9Month17Day,9Month18The announcements on the acceptance of new food raw materials released on [date] all include ergothioneine, with a total of8accepted for the second time.
Meanwhile, the market side has also seen continuous progress: Yili Chuannig Biotechnology Co., Ltd. announced that its ergothioneine raw materials have been launched on the market; Sichuan Jisheng Company also stated that its new series of ergothioneine products, developed using synthetic biology technology, have officially entered mass production.
According to Boyan Consulting,2024The market size of end-user products containing ergothioneine in China reached15.7100 million yuan, of which6has been used in the field of skincare, recently3has been applied in the field of health foods.
The ergothioneine market in China is experiencing rapid growth,However, ergothioneine has not yet been officially approved as a novel food ingredient in China. A breakthrough at this critical regulatory juncture will be a key variable determining its future market potential.
Ding Wei, founder of Sanbio, once stated, based on the current application process, it is speculated that ergothioneine is expected to be included in China's catalog of food raw materials by the end of next year.
At this juncture, VCBeat has compiled a list of the major ergothioneine companies in China.Total11Companies Deploy Synthetic Biology for Ergothioneine Raw Material Production, in addition, numerous companies have launched consumer-oriented ergothioneine products.
(If there are any omissions in the summary, please feel free to add them in the comments section.)
1Bloomage Biotech
Food-Grade Ingredients:2024Year12month, Bloomage Biotech's independently developed and producedMitoEGT™ L-Ergothioneine Successfully Obtains U.S.Self-affirmed GRASApproved, with approved addition levels of up to60mg/portion. This indicatesMitoEGT™ is a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) food ingredient that can be legally used in food and dietary supplement products in the United States, with compliant usage levels leading the market.MitoEGT™ L-Ergothioneine is independently developed and manufactured by Bloomage Biotech using a one-step biosynthesis process. This green and safe production method offers advantages such as high purity, high stability, and support from multiple efficacy studies and patents.
Skincare Ingredients:"Already launched for skincare applications."Bioyouth™-EGT ProSuper VitalityErgothioneine andBioyouth™-EGT PureUltra-pureErgothioneine raw material, with full production capacity at the tonnage level, has already achieved over one million in sales revenue. Among themBioyouth™-EGT PureUltra-Pure Ergothioneine2023Officially launched in the year, this product features high purity and high stability, with quality standards controlling ergothioneine content to exceed99%, and each batch is tested to ensure the stability of raw materials.
It is understood that,Self-GRAS（Generally Recognized As Safe, autonomousGRAS) certification is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a product safety certification method stipulated by , which is approved unanimously by a panel of experts with extensive review experience.
GRASis an important classification of U.S. food ingredients, namely a substance that has been adequately demonstrated to be safe under its intended conditions of use through scientific procedures by a panel of experts who are scientifically trained and possess experience and qualifications, i.e.,GRASSubstance.GRASThe certification signifies that the substance can be marketed and used as a safe food ingredient, enjoying high international recognition.
2, Chuannig Biotech
Yili Chuannig Biotechnology Co., Ltd. only produces ergothioneine raw materials, while the capsule products are manufactured by Kelun Yongnian. The mass-produced synthetic biology products of Yili Chuannig Biotechnology Co., Ltd. include ergothioneine,Squalane, inositol, etc.,2025The annual synthetic biology base is still in the phase of ramping up production capacity.The planned ergothioneine production capacity of Yili Chuannig Biotechnology Co., Ltd. on the flexible production lines at its synthetic biology manufacturing base was0.5t; if subsequent market demand increases, production can be switched to flexible manufacturing lines to meet market needs.
As of2025In the third quarter of the year, the revenue from synthetic biology products of Chuannig Biotechnology was4480ten thousand yuan, with order conditions improving compared to the same period last year; Yili Chuannig Biotechnology adheres to "bio-fermentation+“Dual-wheel drive” strategy for synthetic biology, continuously optimizing production processes and actively advancing the commercialization of synthetic biology products.
3, Synbio Tech
2020In [year], SyntheZyme achieved the synthesis of ergothioneine, with SyntheZyme taking only3months to complete small-scale trials,3months to achieve mass production, possessing leading synthetic biology technology advantages; after introducing one-carbon methanol, the entire synthesis cycle of ergothioneine was shortened24h，Glucose Consumptiondecreased28.5%。
2021 In [year], Synbio Tech optimized the cellular sulfur cycle,Successfully constructed an ergothioneine cell factory, with a unit yield reaching 10.5g/L, boosting the global highest unit yield4times.
4, Jin San Biotech
Founded in2021Jinsan BiotechUse3achieved engineered mass production and product application of ergothioneine within a year.
It is reported that the purity of Jinsan Biotech's ergothioneine raw material reaches as high as99.99%, and possess pharmaceutical-gradecGMPErgothioneine Production Standard Platform, Achieving30Purification and processing capacity of ton-scale fermentation tanks, with monthly production capacity reaching3-5tons, capable of meeting global market supply demands, and leveraging synthetic biology technology to reduce the raw material cost of ergothioneine by 90%.
5, Huadong Medicine
Huadong Medicine possesses ergothioneine raw material reserves and an established customer base, with the raw materials produced by its controlled subsidiary, Hubei Meiqi Health Technology Co., Ltd.
Hubei Meiqi’s ergothioneine is derived from patented strain fermentation (greener and safer) and employs multiple manufacturing processes, including natural fermentation, enzymatic catalytic synthesis, and engineered strain fermentation, to meet diverse market applications.Dosage Forms and Strengths Include0.3%、 1%、98%etc.
6, Changshan Pharmaceutical
According to the annual report, Changshan Pharmaceutical2022Year3began the R&D of ergothioneine, with an investment of19.9410,000 yuan,2023Annual Investment8010,000 yuan, as of2023R&D was completed at year-end and recognized as an intangible asset.
7, Redilin
Reedlin leverages synthetic biology technology to achieve large-scale mass production of ergothioneine,and has successfully passedSelf-GRASCertification.
2023Year6In late May, Ruidelin’s 100-ton-scale intelligent manufacturing plant for green active pharmaceutical ingredients officially commenced operations. The facility was completed after two years of construction, with a total investment of nearly2100 million yuan, with an annual production capacity of200tons, primarily producing star functional ingredients for the cosmetics and nutritional health sectors.
Ruidelin has achieved copper peptide,SPro-Xylane, Ergothioneine,NMN, semaglutide,HMOsMass production of dozens of green active ingredients, providing professional support to over 1,000 brands and manufacturers in the fields of efficacy-based skincare, biopharmaceuticals, and nutritional health.
8, Sichuan Jisheng
Sichuan Jisheng Company has officially commenced mass production of its new line of ergothioneine-based anti-aging products, leveraging breakthroughs in synthetic biology. This achievement is underpinned by two key technologies: the adoption of “microencapsulation embedding technology” during production to firmly preserve the active structure of ergothioneine, and Sichuan Jisheng’s pioneering “fermentation-based production method for ergothioneine,” which not only significantly enhances raw material safety and cost-effectiveness but also simultaneously reduces production costs and environmental pressure.
9Sirio Health
Xianle Health's U.S. SubsidiaryBest FormulationsCapable of productionNAD+the capabilities of ergothioneine cellular energy capsules, although the current business scale is relatively small. The company is highly optimistic about the growth potential of the anti-aging market; in addition to ergothioneine, it has also expanded its portfolio to includePQQ、Quercetin、Q10Related products applicable to anti-aging scenarios.
10, Jincheng Pharmaceutical
Jincheng Pharmaceutical currently has a small quantity of ergothioneine samples available for sale and will adjust production based on market conditions and customer demand. Rumors had circulated that Jincheng Pharmaceutical had supplied ergothioneine raw materials to international beauty brands such as Estée Lauder and Proya, with cooperation amounts exceeding RMB 100 million. In response, Jincheng Pharmaceutical stated that this information is untrue.
11Tuoxin Pharmaceutical
The company has currently mastered core preparation technologies for functional food ingredients such as ergothioneine. It will advance the commercialization of related products in due course based on market demand, thereby cultivating new growth drivers for long-term development.2025Year7Yuotuoxin Pharmaceutical uses its own funds100010,000 yuan capital increase in Jinsan Biotechnology, directly holding Jinsan Biotechnology1.75%equity.
CEnd Products
There are numerous downstream companies launching ergothioneine products. According to incomplete statistics from VCBeat, these include the following companies:
Bloomage Biotech:as well as dermatologically innovative translational products and nutritionally innovative translational products featuring ergothioneine
Kelun Group:Ergothioneine Capsules, “Little Brown Bottle,” “Little Gold Bottle,” “Flash-Melt Cube” (the latter three in2025(Displayed at the CIIE)
Only Three Biologics:Launched a series of ergothioneine products, with the flagship product being Jinsan Ergothioneine Capsules.
KTM：Dietary SupplementsKTMBaijin Pills
Veaag：Time Capsule
By-Health:Ergothioneine Capsules
Estée Lauder:Products under its various brands all contain ergothioneine.
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