Kirin Holdings plans to introduce a new immunity-focused beverage in Singapore, marking the company’s first major rollout of its proprietary LC-Plasma ingredient in Southeast Asia. The Japanese multinational announced that Kirin Immuse Yoghurt Flavour will hit shelves on July 20. The drink contains 100 billion live LC-Plasma cells, a strain of lactic acid bacteria designed to support the immune system.
Launching the new product
Singapore is the initial market for this expansion. The region has seen rising demand for healthier drink options, according to the company. This trend is further supported by the local introduction of the Nutri-Grade front-of-pack scoring system, which makes nutritional information more visible to consumers.
Officials noted that the product will launch initially through Fullerton Health’s digital marketplace. Distribution will expand into drugstores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and e-commerce platforms over time.
The company plans to use its membership base and corporate networks to promote the adoption of healthier habits. Kirin highlighted that this launch represents the first step in a broader strategy to develop the LC-Plasma business in the area.
How the ingredient works
Lactic acid bacteria are generally known to help regulate the gut environment. However, researchers found that only certain immune cells could be activated by these bacteria. To overcome this limitation, Kirin focused on a specific type of immune cell called plasmacytoid dendritic cells, or pDCs. These cells act as a “leader” in the body’s response to viral infections.
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Company representatives stated that prevailing theories at the time suggested no lactic acid bacteria could activate pDCs. Through persistent experimentation, the team identified a strain capable of this task, which they named LC-Plasma. This ingredient is unique because it can activate the entire immune system by targeting these rare cells found in the blood and peripheral organs.
Unlike common probiotics that must survive the journey to the large intestine to be effective, LC-Plasma works differently. It is absorbed in the small intestine and remains effective even if the bacteria are dead, a trait that simplifies production and storage.
While the product is positioned as a beverage, it functions as a functional food item within Kirin’s Health Science business. The company has previously sold LC-Plasma in a hot ginger drink in Japan, a market where awareness of the ingredient has reached approximately 75 percent as of last year.
Boosting resilience to viral threats
Kirin has conducted clinical research to validate the efficacy of this strain. One study collecting data from 619 participants found that the expression levels of pDC activation markers, specifically CD86 and HLA-DR, were significantly maintained during LC-Plasma intake when compared to the placebo control group. Additionally, LC-Plasma intake significantly reduced the cumulative number of cough and fever days compared to the control group, according to a meta-analysis using data from 555 participants.
