CJ partners with Emmyon to develop ingredients preventing muscle atrophy

South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang Corp. announced on Tuesday that it has signed a license contract with Emmyon, an American biotechnology startup, to utilize Emmyon's various patents regarding ursolic acid, at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Ursolic acid is a natural compound contained in apple skin and rosemary.

Emmyon holds a number of patents for technology that uses it to improve muscle metabolism.

Taking advantage of Emmyon's patents, CJ CheilJedang plans to develop ingredients that can prevent and improve muscle atrophy, which is the loss or thinning of muscle mass and a decrease in muscle strength.

It also plans to sell manufacturing technology to global health functional food companies.

The company expects the global market for muscle atrophy-related health supplements to reach about $5 billion (6.5 trillion won) in 2030 due to the global aging trend.

An official from CJ CheilJedang said, "This contract is the first global partnership since we launched the Food & Nutrition Tech (FNT) business," adding, "We will develop and introduce customized nutritional solutions' for various diseases as well as muscle atrophy."

Write to Kyeong-je Han at hankyung@hankyung.com