CEO Taerin Heo of TG Biotech introduces the company’s top-ranked product in the “Weight Management” category, as recognized in last year’s product evaluation by the largest organic food supermarket chain in the U.S.
– Reporter Kim Yoon-ki

TG Biotech, a first-generation bio-venture company based in Daegu, is making waves in the U.S. market with its health functional food for body fat reduction, which ranked No. 1 in a retailer evaluation.

Founded in 2000 by Professor Taerin Heo of the Department of Biotechnology at Kyungpook National University, TG Biotech traces its roots to Dr. Heo’s focused research on obesity since the 1990s. In 2004, he made headlines by becoming the first in the world to discover an obesity-related gene, leading him to seek natural substances that could help address obesity.

One key target of his research was the AMPK enzyme, which Heo dubbed the “exercise switch.” Found in all eukaryotic organisms from yeast to humans, AMPK regulates the body’s mechanism for storing and using energy as fat.

After screening over 30,000 natural substances, Heo successfully developed Actiponin®, a novel compound derived from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (a native Korean plant known as “doloe”), containing two newly discovered molecules: Damulin A and Damulin B, which activate AMPK. Actiponin is now patented in the U.S., Japan, China, and Korea.

According to Dr. Heo, AMPK activation through sustained physical activity triggers fat burning, but Actiponin can activate AMPK through ingestion alone, promoting the breakdown of visceral fat, triglycerides, and cholesterol — even without exercise.

In 2013, Actiponin® was individually approved as a functional ingredient for health functional foods by Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It has been proven safe through animal testing, repeated-dose toxicity studies, and human clinical trials in obese subjects. Notably, no side effects have been reported — a key factor distinguishing it from other fat-reducing products. In Korea, it is currently sold by over 15 companies, including Daesang Corp.

Since beginning exports in 2019, Actiponin has made a strong impact in the U.S. market. In 2020, TG Biotech’s U.S. product ranked No. 1 in the “Weight Management” category in the annual product evaluation conducted by Whole Foods Market, the largest organic grocery chain in the U.S. (a subsidiary of Amazon).

“This award isn’t just about sales figures,” said CEO Heo. “It reflects the product’s efficacy — the low number of consumer complaints speaks for itself. Several American companies have shown interest, and we expect a significant boost in exports moving forward.”

Another tailwind is Korea’s “General Food Functional Labeling Policy”, launched at the end of last year. Under this policy, even general foods (not categorized as functional) can carry functional claims like “may help reduce body fat,” provided that sufficient scientific evidence is presented.

In line with this, TG Biotech has recently obtained approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the use of Gynostemma Extract Powder (Actiponin®) in general food products. The company is also pursuing NDI (New Dietary Ingredient) registration with the U.S. FDA, and is currently exporting to Poland, Thailand, and the Philippines.

“Over 95% of functional food ingredients in Korea are imported,” said Heo. “We take pride in being a Korean company exporting locally developed functional food ingredients to the United States. Moving forward, we plan to significantly expand our market by incorporating Actiponin into a wide variety of food products.”