Duopharma Biotech Berhad (DBB), a leader in the Malaysian pharmaceutical space, will invest up to USD 1 million in The Live Green Co. (TLGC), an AI-powered FoodTech company, to develop plant-based pharmaceutical products and functional foods.

The partnership aims to co-develop plant-based wellness products using TLGC's AI platform Charaka, enabling DBB to expand its product offerings. At least two reformulated products, using Charaka, will launch in Q4 2022.

Through this investment, which is a part of DBB’s consumer healthcare growth strategy focused on plant-based functional foods in response to rising demands, DBB will acquire shares in TLGC to secure manufacturing, marketing, and distribution rights for co-developed products in the ASEAN market.

Analyst QuickTake: The two companies first collaborated in July 2022 , when they signed a collaboration agreement to explore the uses of plant-based ingredients and tech as an alternative for animal, synthetic, and processed ingredients to meet the rising demand for wellness products and pharmaceuticals. The recent investment is an extension of this collaboration and will further solidify the relationship between the two companies.