Kyowa Hakko brought the science to SupplySide Global 2025 with Cognizin® Citicoline beverages, STM stick packs, and a new liposomal Setria® Glutathione collaboration with ONE Innovation Labs. Plus they sponsored Women's Health.
Kyowa Hakko USA brought the science -- and the innovation -- to SupplySide Global 2025, showcasing why Cognizin® Citicoline continues dominating the nootropic beverage space while unveiling an exciting collaboration that takes Setria® Glutathione to the next level.
We got to catch up with Katie Emerson (a repeat PricePlow Podcaster) and Karen Todd (a first-time guest) to talk about the liposomal collaboration with ONE Innovation Labs. And of course, we got to take some Cognizin® STM style - straight to the mouth.
From unique beverage formats to strategic ingredient partnerships, Kyowa's booth demonstrated how premium ingredients drive meaningful innovation in sports nutrition and cognitive health.
Subscribe to our Kyowa Hakko news, check out our recap video, and let's dive into what the team is doing through the end of 2025:
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Cognizin®: The Nootropic Beverage Ingredient
Cognizin continues establishing itself as the go-to nootropic ingredient for functional beverages, and SupplySide 2025 drove that point home. The booth featured several standout innovations showcasing the ingredient's versatility:
Cognizin® Citicoline is dubbed the The Brain Choline not just because it provides choline, but because it also supplies cytidine, which is also needed for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine
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Cognizin® Stick Packs and STM Format
Beyond ready-to-drink options, Kyowa showcased innovation in portable formats. They displayed 500mg Cognizin® stick packs co-branded with Simpson Labs, offering consumers a convenient way to get a full clinical dose on the go.
Even more interesting was the Cognizin® "STM" packet... Straight to Mouth! This format lets users consume the powder directly, using their own saliva as the liquid. It's a bold approach to convenience, eliminating the need for water or mixing while still delivering the full nootropic benefits of Cognizin®.
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BUM Energy Goes Cola
The team got to sample BUM Energy's Cola flavor (which came out this summer), adding another option to their Cognizin-powered lineup. With 250mg Cognizin Citicoline per can and only 125mg caffeine, BUM Energy has carved out a unique position in the energy drink market, delivering focus and mental clarity without overwhelming stimulation. The Cola variety brings a classic flavor profile to the functional beverage space, appealing to consumers who want brain-boosting benefits in a familiar taste.
These diverse delivery formats highlight a key strength of Cognizin®: its versatility across product applications. Whether consumers prefer beverages, stick packs, or direct powder consumption, Cognizin® adapts to meet their preferences while maintaining its clinically-studied benefits for focus, attention, and mental energy.
The Big News: Liposomal Setria® Glutathione
The headline announcement from SupplySide was Kyowa's collaboration with ONE Innovation Labs to create liposomal Setria® Glutathione. This partnership brings together two industry leaders known for science-backed innovation, and the result has serious potential for sports nutrition and overall wellness applications.
The secret supplier behind GHOST, Vital Proteins & Sports Research has been hiding in plain sight. One Innovation Labs created the PureWay-C® technology these major brands rely on. Their latest innovations could reshape supplement formulation entirely.
Why Liposomal Technology Matters
Glutathione is extremely powerful, but it can also be challenging to work with. Kyowa Hakko mastered the craft with Setria®, but the industry is always trying to find ways to get it into the cells more effectively and rapidly, especially in water-based environments. While Setria® already delivers clinically-researched benefits, ONE Innovation Labs' Liposomax technology takes things further by encapsulating glutathione in protective liposomes.
This approach addresses stability concerns while potentially enhancing absorption and extending the time glutathione remains available in the bloodstream. The technology could open new applications for Setria, particularly in ready-to-drink formats where stability has been challenging.
Real Ingredient Collaboration
This isn't just a marketing partnership, it's genuine collaboration between ingredient suppliers. ONE Innovation Labs brings proven expertise in liposomal delivery systems (their PureWay-C has established credibility in the vitamin C space), while Kyowa contributes decades of fermentation expertise and clinical research on glutathione.
The team discussed how this technology could expand Setria's applications beyond traditional supplement formats, potentially enabling new beverage products and acute-use applications that weren't feasible before. For more technical details on the collaboration, check out Episode #190 of the PricePlow Podcast featuring a segment with Katie Emerson (Senior Manager of Scientific Affairs at Kyowa) and Karen Todd (VP of Global Brand Marketing).
Women's Health Leadership
In addition to product innovation, Kyowa served as the Women's Health category sponsor at SupplySide Global 2025, a role that aligns perfectly with the company's research focus and leadership team.
New research on Setria® For Sport shows combining 200mg Setria® Glutathione with 2g L-Citrulline creates powerful synergy for nitric oxide production. Studies demonstrate increased lean mass and enhanced blood flow beyond either ingredient alone.
Karen Todd, who's been with Kyowa for over 20 years, continues driving initiatives that address women-specific health concerns. As she discussed in the video interviews, women's research in supplements has historically lagged behind, but that's changing. With ingredients like Cognizin® supporting cognitive function and Setria® offering added sports benefits, Kyowa is committed to conducting research that addresses real challenges women face: from brain fog and mental clarity to recovery and healthy aging.
Katie echoed this commitment, noting how her role allows her to pursue meaningful research that translates into practical benefits for women juggling multiple responsibilities. The sponsorship reflects Kyowa's broader mission: developing science-backed ingredients that serve diverse populations with real, demonstrable benefits.
Kyowa's Research-Driven Approach
What sets Kyowa apart is their commitment to clinical research. Both Cognizin® and Setria® have extensive human studies supporting their efficacy -- not just in vitro or animal models, but actual clinical trials with measurable outcomes.
Katie's work at Kyowa focuses on uncovering new applications for these ingredients through rigorous research protocols. She's currently leading multiple Cognizin® studies while exploring acute applications for Setria®, especially in sports nutrition where the combination of Setria® Glutathione and L-Citrulline has shown synergistic benefits for nitric oxide production and exercise performance.
This research-first mentality means when Kyowa makes claims about their ingredients, they're backed by peer-reviewed data, not just marketing hype.
Continued Innovation from Kyowa Quality
It's worth noting that many of Kyowa's ingredients are manufactured in the USA at their Cape Girardeau, Missouri facility. This domestic production ensures quality control and supply chain reliability, critical factors for brands formulating with these ingredients.
The combination of USA manufacturing, Japanese fermentation expertise, and commitment to clinical research makes Kyowa a unique player in the ingredient supplier space. Their approach prioritizes efficacy and safety over shortcuts, resulting in premium ingredients that formulators trust and consumers respond to.
Conclusion: Science Meets Innovation
SupplySide Global 2025 showcased why Kyowa Hakko remains at the forefront of functional ingredient innovation. From expanding Cognizin®'s presence in diverse beverage formats to pioneering the liposomal Setria collaboration with ONE Innovation Labs, the company continues pushing boundaries while maintaining their research-driven approach.
The growing presence of Cognizin® in energy drinks, the creative delivery formats, and the strategic partnership with ONE Innovation Labs all point to a company that understands both the science and the market. As more brands recognize the value of clinically-studied ingredients, Kyowa's commitment to research and quality positions them perfectly for continued growth.
For formulators and brands looking to differentiate their products with ingredients backed by real science, Kyowa's booth at SupplySide 2025 offered plenty of inspiration. Whether you're developing the next breakthrough nootropic beverage or exploring sports nutrition applications, Cognizin® and Setria offer proven benefits with the research to back them up.
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