In 2006, two fellow alumni Yoo Sang-ku and Chung Jin-wook started Erum Biotechnolgies. Both were students of Prof. Lee Eun's chemistry laboratory at Seoul National University. After graduation, Yoo became a leading researcher for several several bio-venture companies. Chung on the other hand worked in the operation and technology management sector. Their joint venture has proven to be a fruitful combination.
Enhanced preservation for fresh fruits and vegetables
As standard of living has risen, so has demand for fresh fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, every fruit starts to deteriorate immediately after it is picked, a process triggered by a hormone called ethylene that occurs naturally in produce.
The science behind a 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) generator designed by Erum was originally discovered by Prof. Sisler at North Carolina State University, a leading American university for agricultural studies, who studied the natural ripening process of apples in the mid-1990s. Erum's 1-MCP technology is conceptually simple and highly economical in terms of cost.
Cosmetic Ingredients
Licorice extract is known to be one of the most effective cosmetic ingredients for whitening skin. However, it could not be widely used due to high extraction costs. Erum has developed a unique advanced technology to artificially synthesize licorice extract which will overcome existing problems and limitations of naturally-occurring licorice. Erum anticipates that its technology will expand its usage and application to cosmetics and other fields.
Nutritional and Pharmaceutical Ingredients
The technology to manufacture Vitamin H is another pride of Erum. Vitamin H (or Biotin) is an important co-enzyme in biological carbonylation process and essential coenzyme for metabolism of carbohydrate, fat, and protein. It is used for animal nutrition, vitamin, and pharmaceuticals and its annual global demand is estimated to be 80 MT a year. Vitamin H can be produced through extraction, fermentation, or chemical synthesis. But all these methods are known to be complicated and difficult in terms of technology and a manufacturing process.
Erum has secured a unique and effective technology for manufacturing d-lactone which is a key intermediate for Vitamin H production. This can assure people of cost competitiveness in Vitamin H production even compared to Chinese suppliers.
Erum Biotechnologies Inc has been awarded the KOTRA Seal of Excellence since 2010.
