Pairing the bacteriophage platform of Curensys Bio, a CJ CheilJedang bio spin-off, with LIMPID's pet food development capability
Starting with antibacterial efficacy testing in canine otitis externa, then expanding into functional pet food ingredients
LIMPID, an AI company built for animal health, announced on July 20 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Curensys Bio (CEO Jongsoo Jeon) to jointly develop pet healthcare solutions based on bacteriophages. The agreement was signed on July 14 at LIMPID's research center in Yongsan, Seoul.
Curensys Bio is a biotechnology company spun off from an in-house venture at CJ CheilJedang, with core technology for developing bacteriophages, environmentally friendly antibacterial microorganisms that selectively kill harmful bacteria. The two companies will combine Curensys Bio's bacteriophage materials with LIMPID's veterinary nutrition and pet food development capability to research and develop functional products aimed at gut health and immunity in companion animals.
The partnership did not begin with this agreement. Research teams on both sides have collaborated since Curensys Bio's days as an in-house venture at CJ CheilJedang, and they are currently verifying the lytic activity of bacteriophages against causative bacteria in canine otitis externa through LV Veterinary Clinical Center, LIMPID's clinical testing institution for pet food and supplement ingredients. Otitis externa recurs frequently in dogs and is a condition where antibiotic resistance is a recurring problem. The companies plan to extend the antibacterial efficacy confirmed in these studies into functional pet food ingredients for diets and supplements.
Heesu Kim, CEO of LIMPID, said, “Our goal is to carry the efficacy of bacteriophages, confirmed in a condition like otitis externa where recurrence and antibiotic resistance are constant problems, into the food and supplements animals eat every day. Adding the phage technology of Curensys Bio to the veterinary nutrition and AI capability we have built with TrustyFood, Dr.Trusty, and Kinfora, we will bring out functional pet food that does not lean on antibiotics.”
Jongsoo Jeon, CEO of Curensys Bio, said, “LIMPID is the right partner to take the value of bacteriophages in companion animals and turn it into real products. Building on the joint research we have already done, we will move quickly toward commercialization.”
LIMPID, founded in 2020, runs a pet healthcare business spanning data, products, science, and AI through Saladpet, TrustyFood, Dr.Trusty, and Kinfora. It operates LV Veterinary Clinical Center, a clinical testing institution for pet food and supplement ingredients established as a joint venture with Kyungpook National University's technology holding company.