Investing in phytomedicinal research
Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., of Osaka, Japan received the ABC 2013 Varro E. Tyler Commercial Investment in Phytomedicinal Research Award. Since its founding in 1955, the company has been committed to rigorous scientific and clinical research of its products, including its top-selling, clinically researched odorless Aged Garlic Extract, sold as Kyolic.
“The ABC Varro E. Tyler Award represents our extensive chemical, pharmacological, and clinical research on Wakunaga's proprietary Aged Garlic Extract, sold as Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract in the USA and almost 50 international markets,” said Albert Dahbour, Vice President of Wakunaga of America, a subsidiary established in the early 1970s. “We invest a lot in scientific discovery and to be recognized for our dedication to botanical research is very inspiring for us.”
Mark Blumenthal, ABC Founder and Executive Director, said: “In our view, Wakunaga merits ABC’s recognition for its outstanding commitment to such research, as evidenced by its strong record of funding hundreds of chemical, pharmacological, and clinical studies on its unique, proprietary garlic preparation.”
According to Jay Levy, director of sales for Wakunaga of America, the company’s focus on research is part of its commitment to promoting public health through herbal medicine. “This mission is accomplished by providing products of the highest quality, which are supported by truthful science and accompanied by helpful consumer information,” he said. “We are extremely proud that we now have over 700 peer-reviewed, published papers on the efficacy of Aged Garlic Extract. Our future plans are to continue to invest in the research of herbal products.”
In 2012, garlic was the second best-selling herbal dietary supplement in the food, drug, and mass-market channel in the United States with sales of almost $35 million in that channel alone. Kyolic, Levy noted, is responsible for 70% of branded garlic sales in the natural foods category in the United States.