Umami Bioworks has announced the expansion of its cultivated marine cell platform to produce polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) from a wider range of aquatic species, including Japanese eel, sturgeon, and bluefin tuna. The development builds on the company’s existing work with salmon-derived PDRN and extends its Marine Radiance™ portfolio for use in cosmetics.
PDRN is a DNA-based compound used in regenerative skincare and has traditionally been extracted from salmon milt, or sperm, a practice rooted in the conventional seafood industry. The use of this compound raises both ethical and environmental concerns, particularly given the invasive nature of harvesting reproductive tissue from fish.
Alternative sources previously out of reach
Umami Bioworks is using its cultivated cell platform to overcome these constraints. By producing PDRN from high-value marine species that are not commonly used in traditional extraction due to ethical, cost, or supply-related challenges, the company is working to broaden access to marine DNA materials without reliance on wild-caught sources.
Studying species-specific performance
Comparative studies conducted by Umami are currently evaluating the biological activity of PDRN derived from Japanese eel, sturgeon, and bluefin tuna against the industry standard sourced from salmon. The early data suggest variations in biological performance across species, with potential applications in differentiated skincare formulations.
The company is in discussions with cosmetic manufacturers and formulation companies to commercialise the cultivated marine PDRN. These discussions are focused on applications in high-performance skincare products that rely on regenerative actives.
Gayathri Mani, Product & Strategy Manager at Umami Bioworks, stated, “The PDRN industry has been shaped by what was commercially viable, which is very important. But we do believe that if supply were not a constraint, we could be exploring far more powerful marine sources, and that is exactly what cultivated technology allows us to do.”
