Winter Virus Fears... Patent-Protected Rotavirus-Inhibiting Formula Sales Soar

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] As winter viruses such as rotavirus spread, sales of infant formula containing a patented substance that inhibits rotavirus are increasing.

On the 28th, Lotte Food Pasteur announced that after applying a patented metabolite derived from kimchi lactic acid bacteria with rotavirus inhibitory ability to Withmom infant formula, sales increased by 27%. Despite difficulties in the infant formula industry due to low birth rates, sales of functional infant formula are increasing.

In October 2018, Lotte Food renewed and launched the anti-rotavirus Withmom infant formula and Withmom goat milk formula by applying a patented metabolite derived from kimchi lactic acid bacteria with rotavirus inhibitory ability. Since the renewal, sales of both Withmom infant formula and Withmom goat milk formula have increased by 27%, and especially Withmom goat milk formula sales increased by 128%, more than doubling.

Recently, news of rotavirus group infections has been reported, and the number of rotavirus infections has been increasing during winter, so interest in anti-rotavirus Withmom is expected to grow further. According to statistics from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the weekly number of group A rotavirus infections in the second half of last year fluctuated between 20 and 40 after recording 47 cases in week 25, but surged to 67 cases in the last week 52, marking the highest number in six months. Rotavirus tends to increase in winter when indoor activities increase and immunity decreases.

The patented substance applied to Withmom infant formula is a metabolite of kimchi lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum LRCC5310 strain) jointly developed by Lotte Food, Lotte Central Research Institute, and Professor Kim Won-yong of Chung-Ang University. It received a patent for rotavirus inhibitory ability (Patent No. 10-1883148).

EPS (extracellular polysaccharide, a natural metabolite of lactic acid bacteria) extracted from Lactobacillus plantarum LRCC5310, a kimchi lactic acid bacteria jointly developed by Lotte and Chung-Ang University, was administered to animal cells infected with rotavirus and infant mice, resulting in reduced rotavirus infection and alleviation of viral diarrhea symptoms. Furthermore, when this EPS was administered to infants and young children actually infected with rotavirus, symptoms of enteritis improved, and it was confirmed that the speed of viral excretion from the body increased.

Lotte Food, Lotte Central Research Institute, and Professor Kim Won-yong of Chung-Ang University have been jointly researching lactic acid bacteria materials that can improve and prevent rotavirus diarrhea. In 2018, they signed a joint research and academic exchange agreement for infant functional products and microbiome joint research. They have also accumulated achievements by publishing related research results in SCI-level international academic journals (Journal of Dairy Science, June 2018) and presenting at international conferences held in Europe.

A representative of Lotte Food Pasteur said, “The sales increase of anti-rotavirus Withmom is a result achieved through quality enhancement,” and added, “As viral diseases increase in winter and interest in children's health rises, sales are expected to expand further in the future.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.