Patent Granted on Inhibiting Cancer Metastasis Using Enzyme-treated Lactic Acid Bacteria “LFK”

Nichinichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Iga City, Mie Prefecture; CEO ＆ Representative Director: Masahiko Morishita, hereinafter, “Nichinichi Pharma”) has proved the inhibitory effect on cancer metastasis of enzyme-treated lactic acid bacteria materials in a joint study with Project Professor Dr. Moriaki Kusakabe, Research Center of Food Safety, Faculty and Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Science. The company has obtained a patent grant through a joint patent application with the University of Tokyo on October 4 2022(Japanese Patent No. 7152733).

LFK is a proprietary lactic acid bacteria material from Nichinichi Pharmaceutical produced by lysing the cell wall of Enterococcus faecalis bacterium to let the intracellular component elute. A joint study with the University of Tokyo recently confirmed that the oral administration of LFK or its water-soluble component can inhibit metastasis of breast carcinoma or melanoma to the lungs, and a patent as a “Cancer metastasis inhibitor” has been filed and duly registered.

In the actual implementation of this patent application, laboratory mice were divided into 2 groups: Control and LFK. Physiological saline to the Control group and LFK mixed with water to the LFK group were orally administered daily. Breast cancer cells were inoculated intravenously on the 3rd day of the LFK administration, and on the 7th day of the inoculation with breast cancer cells, the lungs were removed. As a result of observing the tumor colonies in the sections of removed lungs, little or no cancer engraftment was found in the LFK group. In contrast, the control group showed cancer metastases over the entire section, and their colony sizes were large. In the test using melanoma, known as cancer which is more likely to metastasize, the water-soluble component of LFK was administered, which showed the same aforementioned effects.

Since its foundation in 1987, Nichinichi Pharmaceutical has continued the research on the functionality of the Enterococcus faecalis bacterium, leading to 13 granted patents, centered around inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, control of leukopenia during the use of anti-cancer drugs, and reduction of toxicity (including this patent). We are committed to promoting activities of joint research with higher education and healthcare institutions to materialize our corporate goal of “contributing to a healthy, rewarding, and wonderful life of people.”

■Patent description
Patent number: Japanese Patent No. 7152733
Title of the invention: Cancer metastasis inhibitor
Patentee: Nichinichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., The University of Tokyo