GC Wellbeing said on Friday that it signed a technology transfer contract with Japan's Healthy Navi for its functional raw material Green Cera-F, a honey suckle bud extract.

Green Cera-F is a raw material that has been recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its functionality that can help stomach health by protecting the gastric mucosa. Through non-clinical tests, researchers confirmed that the raw material can help stomach health due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which can protect the gastric mucosa, and increase gastric mucus.

Consequent human tests also showed a significant improvement in the gastrointestinal liver symptom scale item.

Under the agreement, GC Wellbeing will receive royalties for raw material sales in Japan. Healthy Navi will secure exclusive supply rights to Green Cera-F in Japan and the right to develop and launch products using this raw material.

GC Wellbeing said it would accelerate the overseas expansion of its functional raw materials and expand to other markets in Asia, the U.S., and Europe.

"This contract is the first case of technology transfer concerning our functional raw materials," a company official said, "We will actively promote the overseas expansion of our functional raw materials."

GC Wellbeing has also been researching and developing other functional raw materials derived from natural products, including Joincist (a Siberian chrysanthemum extract), which can help joint and cartilage health, the official added.

CEO Shin Hyung-sik of HNI, a distributor of GC Wellbeing’s functional raw materials to Healthy Navi, attended the signing ceremony on behalf of Healthy Navi CEO Toshitada Inoue.