Phynova

About Phynova

Phynova is a British life science company, founded in 2002 by Robert Miller, that develops and commercializes health ingredients derived from plants. The company's vision originated at the Oxford Science Park with the goal of applying modern technology to traditional medicinal plants to discover drug candidates. Robert Miller, who was raised in Palo Alto and later moved to London, was introduced to the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) after an illness, which sparked his interest in developing these medicines for Western markets. This led him to start a business importing herbs from China before co-founding Phynova to bridge the gap between traditional Eastern medicine and the scientific, evidence-based standards of the West.

The company's business model is centered on developing natural functional ingredients for the consumer healthcare and food industries. Phynova identifies active compounds in plants with a history of use in traditional medicine and develops the scientific and intellectual property framework necessary for global commercialization. Its primary clients are dietary supplement and food and beverage (F&B) brands. Phynova operates on a B2B model, selling its ingredients to manufacturers. A key milestone was a Series B funding round of $10.8 million in May 2020, led by DSM, a global science-based company in nutrition and health. This partnership also established a global distribution agreement for Phynova's main product.

Phynova's flagship ingredient is Reducose®, a patented water extract of white mulberry leaves. Supported by over ten clinical studies, Reducose® is shown to help manage healthy blood glucose and insulin levels by reducing post-meal spikes by up to 40%. It works by partially blocking the digestion of carbohydrates. Reducose® is heat-stable, water-soluble, and can be incorporated into supplements, foods, and beverages. Other products in its pipeline have included treatments for postoperative ileus and wound healing.