BioHarvest Sciences Inc. (CSE:BHSC, NASDAQ:BHST) is poised to capitalize on key trends shaping the health and wellness industry in 2025, including a growing focus on sustainability, longevity-driven health solutions, and plant-based innovation.
“The notions of sustainability, longevity, and the recognition of the power that exists in plants from consumers and industry are three critical trends that are really driving tailwinds,” Ilan Sobel, BioHarvest Sciences CEO, told Proactive.
“From a political perspective, there’s a new administration coming into power that is looking broader to find solutions to the American health crisis.”
Sobel, who has more than a quarter of a century in senior roles, added that never before in his career has he started a year with as many tailwinds that his business is able to leverage.
“And there’s nothing better than having tailwinds for a business that already has momentum,” he said.
BioHarvest is building on a significant year for the company in 2024. Notably, it introduced several new products in its direct-to-consumer unit and launched its Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) services business.
Both business lines leverage the company’s proprietary botanical synthesis technology, which allows it to grow plant-based molecules without having to grow the plant itself.
Expanding direct-to-consumer business
BioHarvet saw significant growth in its direct-to-consumer business in 2024, led by its flagship red grape cell derived VINIA line. VINIA has been clinically proven to increase arterial dilation, improving blood flow and in turn energy and mental alertness.
Sobel highlighted that the company exited the year with a fourth quarter guidance run rate of $30 million in annual revenues and more than 50,000 VINIA subscribers in the US.
This was led by its core VINIA capsules, in addition to the launch of VINIA Superfood Coffee and Functional Tea as part of the company’s VINIA Inside strategy targeting younger consumers.
“We have literally doubled this business every year for the last three years and we are expecting additional significant growth in our direct-to-consumer wellness business,” he said.
The company has also seen impressive growth in its direct-to-doctor business, which involves educating integrated medicine specialists about VINIA.
“2025 is all about doubling down on the VINIA Inside strategy,” Sobel said.
BioHarvest expects to launch a Nespresso-compatible version of its Superfood Coffee during the first half of the year. It will also be adding K-cup-compatible English Breakfast and Matcha Green Tea to its Functional Tea lineup.
As the company executes its hot beverage strategy, BioHarvest also plans to launch a VINIA Super-Chews in the second quarter, an important step targeting a younger consumer base.
“It’s for people who are super active and really require that vascularity, and we think that will allow us to broaden our consumer base,” Sobel said.
“While we haven’t given guidance yet, I will say that we’re driving toward very high double-digit growth in 2025.”
More CDMO anchor partnerships
Less than a year after launching its CDMO services unit in February 2024, BioHarvest has entered into several key collaborations including an anchor partnership with Tate & Lyle, a British multinational firm specializing in providing ingredients for the food and beverage industry.
The CDMO unit specializes in developing and manufacturing complex, patentable plant-based molecules through its botanical synthesis technology, enabling partnerships with pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and nutrition companies to create life-changing molecules that offer reduced development costs, faster timelines, and enhanced safety profiles.
“We are anchored in 17 years of biotech experience and more than $100 million invested in the botanical synthesis platform technology,” Sobel said.“We’ve disrupted major billion-dollar categories with the strategy of superior science, superior efficacy, superior taste, and superior sustainability.”
Through its partnership with Tate & Lyle, the company aims to develop unique sugar-free and natural sweeteners from plants. Sobel believes these molecules have the potential to be game-changers in a market where consumers are looking for more zero-sugar options.
“The challenge with current products in the sweetener market is the big taste difference, and so for us, this is an opportunity to go after the Holy Grail by leveraging our technology to bring superior taste,” he said.
This year, BioHarvest expects to announce new anchor partnerships in the three other verticals they are targeting: cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.
“2025 is going to be a legacy year for our CDMO unit,” Sobel said.
“2024 was about getting the business set up, we learned a lot and announced a couple of big deals. With the momentum that we have, this year we are going to bring in a number of catalysts including major deals and investor partnerships that will start to see us move existing projects from Phase 1 to Phase 2, which means we are able to create a life-changing molecule.”
Sobel sees 2025 as a critical step for the company toward its North Star goal of developing five to 10 life-changing health and wellness molecules over the next decade, all while ensuring sustainability for future generations.
“Our direct-to-consumer business is an important part of that growth, by growing our subscriber base, but the real catalyst is to get to hundreds of millions in revenue in our CDMO services business,” he concluded.