Kerubal Group Secures New Invention Patent, Strengthening IP Moat and Advancing Commercialization of FSMPs

VCBeat has learned that Kelubao Group has recently received authorization for another invention patent from the China National Intellectual Property Administration. To date, Kelubao Group has secured a total of 45 patents, including 13 invention patents and 32 utility model patents. Additionally, it is reported that nearly 10 more patents are currently pending review and approval.

For the KHS Group, the acquisition of this invention patent not only signifies its R&D strengthRe-recognized; also signifies that the company is inFoods for Special Medical PurposesIntellectual property barriers in the field of Foods for Special Medical Purposes (hereinafter referred to as “FSMPs”) have been further strengthened. This also provides additional assurance for the market launch and sales of its FSMPs.

The latest invention patent obtained by KHS Group this May is titled “A Special Medical Purpose Infant Nutritional Supplement and Its Preparation Method.” With the acquisition of this patent, KHS Group has achieved further development in the production and preparation of foods for special medical purposes, thereby strengthening its intellectual property barriers.

On one hand, with the successive acquisition of patents, KHS can fully meet the nutritional support needs of diverse populations;On the other hand, KHS Group has strengthened its production and preparation technology chain, gradually establishing a comprehensive patent barrier covering the entire process from raw material selection and formula optimization to process preparation.

The acquisition of the aforementioned invention patents is a testament to the R&D strength of KHS Group. On one hand, Dr. Gao Yuyou, Vice President of R&D at KHS Group, leads a multidisciplinary team covering nutrition, clinical medicine, laboratory testing, and manufacturing processes; this composite team fosters further collision and stimulation of innovative ideas. On the other hand, KHS Group has jointly established a Special Medical Purpose Food R&D Joint Laboratory with Academician Chen Jian’s team, collaborating to achieve breakthroughs in process development that meet market demands. Furthermore, KHS Group has set up multiple innovation R&D and technology centers in Ningbo and Yixing, China, as well as in Singapore, to further attract global innovative talent.

Notably, the newly granted invention patent is deeply integrated with Kelubao Group’s FSMP product, Jialubai Special Medical Purpose Infant Nutritional Supplement, which has already obtained its registration certificate. The acquisition of this patent further safeguards the production and market launch of Kelubao Group’s foods for special medical purposes.

With the DRG/DIP healthcare insurance reforms, clinical physicians and the general public have gained a deeper understanding of the importance of nutritional support in disease management, further driving the development of the Foods for Special Medical Purpose (FSMP) market. KHS Group has not only targeted the essential FSMP market for infants and young children but also made strategic inroads into the rapidly growing adult FSMP sector, leveraging its proprietary technologies and patents to develop a diverse portfolio of FSMP products. According to the FSMP Information Inquiry Platform, KHS Group currently holds four FSMP registration certificates.

Specifically targeting the infant and toddler segment, KHS’s foods for special medical purposes (FSMP) include Jialubai FSMP Infant Nutritional Supplement, Taiminkang FSMP Formula for Premature/Low Birth Weight Infants, and Jiafubao FSMP Lactose-Free Formula. The first two products are primarily designed to provide nutritional support for premature infants and those with low birth weight, while the latter is tailored for infants with lactose intolerance. Through the development of these products, KHS has gradually established a relatively comprehensive brand portfolio in the FSMP sector for infants aged 0–12 months, capable of meeting the nutritional support needs of the vast majority of infants and young children.

Targeting the adult population, KHS has developed Tapuhui, a food for special medical purposes (FSMP) with a complete nutritional formula. This product is designed for individuals aged 10 and above who require nutritional supplementation due to limited food intake, digestive and absorptive disorders, or metabolic disturbances, thereby meeting the nutritional support needs of adults.In the field of foods for special medical purposes (FSMP), stringent review processes and lengthy registration cycles often mean that approval and certification can take several years. Leveraging its own strengths, KHS Group has rapidly developed adult FSMP products and made in-depth strategic investments in adult formula FSMP for specific nutritional needs, positioning itself to accelerate expansion in the adult FSMP market in the future.

In fact, to more comprehensively meet the needs of infants and young children in China, KHS Group has also launched cross-border foods for special medical purposes (FSMP) for infants, including extensively hydrolyzed infant formula with cow's milk protein for special medical purposes and amino acid-based infant formula for special medical purposes, which are mainly used to address issues such as cow's milk protein allergy in infants and young children.According to “Research Progress on Food Allergy in Infants and Young Children” published in Medical Recapitulate,“Infants and young children with food allergies have an elevated risk of developing bronchial asthma (approximately 15%), while the incidence of asthma among those allergic to cow’s milk is 26%.” These two products, together with KHS Group’s existing three product lines targeting infants and young children, form a comprehensive solution that addresses the needs of this demographic and effectively manages food allergies in infants and young children.

It is reported that four certified medical foods from Kelubao Group are set to be launched for sale.

The product’s market launch is closely tied to KHS Group’s long-term dedication to the specialized medical food sector, its deep understanding of market demands, and its mastery of core R&D and production technologies. Notably, KHS Group has established production lines for various dosage forms, including dry-blending, wet-mixing, and liquid formulations, and operates its own laboratories capable of performing over 2,000 professional tests across the entire process from raw materials to finished products. This infrastructure provides a solid foundation for the launch of its diverse product portfolio.

Following product launch, market expansion is clearly indispensable, and Kelubao Group has already established a mature commercialization network for product sales.

On the one hand, during the product research and development and production processes, KHS Group has been continuously assembling professionals with years of channel expansion experience in the pharmaceutical and professional nutritional supplement sectors, thereby gradually expanding its own sales network and proactively planning for the future.

On the other hand, KHS has established an extensive sales network covering both online and offline channels. Offline, KHS has expanded its reach across multiple channels, including hospital channels that cover more than 1,000 children's hospitals and maternal and child health hospitals, as well as numerous mother-and-baby retail chain stores. This expansion not only further strengthens its brand influence but also helps meet the nutritional support needs of special populations. In addition to traditional offline channels, KHS is actively developing its online presence. Leveraging platforms such as JD Health and Tmall Health, and with compliant support from online clinical nutritionists, KHS provides necessary nutritional support for both infants and adults.

Perhaps more important is the original aspiration of the KHS Group. It does not merely provide foods for special medical purposes (FSMP), but offers refined management covering the entire consumer life cycle, ensuring that every consumer receives timely and appropriate nutritional support.

Amid the current emphasis on nutritional rehabilitation, and with the emergence of demand for nutritional support in both in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings, a surge in substantial market demand is foreseeable. KHS Group has already made comprehensive preparations across research and development, production, and commercialization, awaiting only the final impetus to launch its products onto the market.