Yew Bio-Pharm to enter US health supplement market
With two agaric polysaccharide products focused on enhancing immunity
Yew Bio-Pharm Group, a Chinese grower of yew trees and raw materials used in traditional Chinese medicine, is entering the US health supplement market through a collaboration with an American health supplement company, to research and develop agaric polysaccharide (black fungus extract) and its related health supplements.
The new products will be manufactured in the US and sold in the US and China, and are expected to launch in the first half of 2015.
Black fungus is known to benefit health issues associated with the lungs, stomach and liver in Eastern culture. It is rich in iron, protein, vitamins, polysaccharide, fibre, and other minerals, which are often used in Chinese cooking and traditional Chinese medicine.
Yew Bio plans initially to launch two agaric polysaccharide products, which include a beverage powder and capsule, with tastes specifically developed for both the American and Chinese markets. The company also intends to continue product introductions through the second half of 2015 and into 2016.
Yew Bio says the new health supplements enable body functions to absorb micro-elements and bio-activators and make full use of the nutrition and medicinal value of black fungus.
The Chinese Health Food Industry Monitoring and Marketing Research Report says the agaric polysaccharide extracted from black fungus could promote cellular and humoral immunity. Additional functions include anti-leukopenia, anti-cancer, anti-radiation, anti-mutation, anti-inflammatory, lowering blood fat and cholesterol.
The total worldwide sales of vitamins and dietary supplements were estimated to be US$84.26bn in 2011, with nearly 26% sold in the US and 13% in China. Furthermore, according to a forecast from China's Healthcare Association, sales of vitamins and dietary supplements in China are estimated to increase up to 10% annually.
'Agaric polysaccharide has special properties that help balance certain human body functions,' said Zhiguo Wang, Chairman and Chief Executive of Yew Bio-Pharm Group. 'We believe that introduction of our products in both powder and capsule forms holds much promise for our company in the growing health supplement market, both in the US and China.'
