Improved Symptoms of Endometriosis Confirmed with AglyMax® Intake

Nichimo Biothics Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Meidai Kitatani; 100% subsidiary of Nichimo Co., Ltd.) operates as a health food manufacturer specializing in research and development of koji-fermented soybeans and isoflavones. The company supplies AglyMax®, a proprietary koji-fermented soybean isoflavone ingredient developed using its own koji fermentation technology—patented in Japan, the U.S., and Europe—to the market, and also sells supplements containing this ingredient to clinics and other institutions. (Note: The manufacturing patent has now expired.) Over the years, Nichimo Biothics has conducted joint research with numerous renowned universities worldwide, accumulating extensive scientific evidence.

Through previous studies, Nichimo Biothics has confirmed the effectiveness of AglyMax® in alleviating menopausal symptoms, improving pregnancy rates via LIF production, and preventing lifestyle-related diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

At the co-hosted symposium during the 26th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine, held on June 27 (Sat) at Pacifico Yokohama, Dr. Yasusuke Mori, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, presented findings from a double-blind trial demonstrating that administration of AglyMax® significantly reduced endometriosis-related pain in patients.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age, causing severe menstrual pain and chronic pelvic pain. Current standard treatments primarily involve hormonal therapies, such as GnRH agonists/antagonists and progestins. However, these treatments are often unsuitable for patients seeking pregnancy. Therefore, there is a strong demand for effective non-hormonal treatments that allow concurrent endometriosis management and fertility efforts. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine previously reported pilot trial results using AglyMax® at the 41st Endometriosis Society Meeting (2018). Additionally, Nichimo Biothics and the university jointly filed a patent in 2017 titled "Composition for Improving Endometriosis and Method of Manufacturing the Same," which was granted in November 2021. Furthermore, a paper detailing the mechanism of action was published in Gynecological Endocrinology, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2025.

These research findings were presented at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine (June 26–28, Kanagawa) during a co-hosted symposium and are hereby announced.

Summary of the presentation is as follows:

【Presentation Title】

"New Developments in Endometriosis Treatment Using an Isoflavone Supplement

~From Basic Research to Randomized Controlled Trials~"

Presenter: Yasusuke Mori (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine)

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age, causing severe menstrual pain and chronic pelvic pain. Current standard treatments primarily consist of hormonal therapies, such as GnRH agonists/antagonists and progestin agents, which suppress ovulation. However, these treatments are often unsuitable for patients wishing to conceive.

Our research has focused on "daidzein-rich isoflavone aglycones (DRIAs)," an aglycone-type soy isoflavone formulation. Using endometriosis stromal cells, we conducted basic research and found that DRIAs suppress cell proliferation and the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, COX-2, aromatase) in an ERβ-dependent manner. Additionally, DRIAs regulate local estrogen metabolism by inhibiting HSD17β1 and increasing estrogen sulfotransferase. Furthermore, we confirmed a suppressive effect on lesions in a mouse model of endometriosis.

Based on these findings, we conducted a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (designated clinical research). After three months of administration, DRIAs significantly improved endometriosis-related pain. This seminar will summarize the molecular mechanisms of DRIAs and clinical trial results, discussing the potential of a novel endometriosis treatment that does not require ovulation suppression.

End

【Inquiries】 For questions regarding this announcement, please contact the Sales Department at Nichimo Biothics Co., Ltd. (03-6478-5060).

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