Overview
Executive Summary
Obesity is a global epidemic affecting more than one billion people, with projections that one quarter of the world’s population will be affected by 2035. GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Wegovy/Ozempic) enable short-term weight loss but often face weight regain after cessation, alongside high costs, side effects, and injection burden. Team Essential proposes a safe, accessible,and sustainable approach to long-term weight management using extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Delivered as a daily probiotic yogurt, our concept aims to support metabolic homeostasis and help maintain weight loss as an adjunct to healthy diet and activity. Our team aims to characterize EV cargo/mechanisms, assess safety, and evaluate efficacy in laboratory models to lower barriers to adherence and access.
Our Solution
Core Technology
- Mechanism: Lactobacillus rhamnosus-derived exosomes (EVs) inhibit 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and activate the AMPK signaling pathway, thereby reducing fat cell accumulation.
- Preliminary Results: In vitro ImageJ analysis showed that high-concentration groups exhibited a significant reduction in fat cell numbers compared to controls.
- Format: Delivered as a probiotic yogurt / ingestible food product, allowing seamless integration into daily diet and maximizing compliance.
- Disruptive Innovation: Unlike existing approaches that rely on hunger suppression, our method directly modulates metabolic and cellular pathways.
- Scalability: Developed using GRAS-certified strains with potential for industrial-scale production.
Problem & Market Opportunity
Anti-Obesity Drugs Market Outlook[1]
Recent projections show that the global anti-obesity drugs market is expected to soar from USD 7.17 billion in 2024 to USD 78.46 billion by 2034, growing at a remarkable CAGR of over 27%. North America currently dominates this market, while Asia Pacific is emerging as the fastest-growing region. The landscape is shifting: prescription drugs lead today, but OTC options and e-commerce channels are rapidly gaining traction. Similarly, while centrally acting drugs remain standard, there is strong momentum toward safer, more targeted peripherally acting therapies.
For our team, these trends highlight both the urgency and the opportunity: obesity treatments are in unprecedented demand, but existing solutions face limitations in accessibility, safety, and long-term sustainability. That is why we chose to pursue an innovative, microbiome-based approach. Our project directly aligns with this global transformation—offering a safer, more scalable, and consumer-friendly pathway that could complement or even reshape the future of obesity treatment.
Emerging Global Health and Wellness Trends[2]
The functional nutrition sector, which includes foods and beverages designed to deliver specific health benefits, is rapidly expanding worldwide. In markets like the U.S., U.K., and Germany, about half of consumers, and nearly two-thirds of Gen Z and millennials, report buying functional nutrition products, with demand even stronger in China. This growth is driven by a shift in mindset: food is increasingly seen as preventive medicine, not just something to avoid “bad” ingredients (like sugar or gluten), but as a way to actively add beneficial components such as protein, nootropics, turmeric, or probiotics.
Consumers now take a broad view of functional nutrition, ranging from traditional categories like fruits, vegetables, fermented foods, and protein powders to newer areas such as super greens, adaptogens, and pre- and probiotic drinks. The most successful innovations are those that blend the line between supplements and food, offering both efficacy and enjoyable taste/texture.
Within this context, our microbiome-based gut health solution aligns perfectly with the trend. By leveraging probiotics and exosome-based approaches, our project does more than offer a healthier alternative: it places itself at the forefront of the intersection between supplement science and everyday nutrition, addressing consumer demand for functional foods that actively improve long-term health and wellness.
Energy, gut health, and weight loss are highly sought-after benefits of functional-nutrition products. They are also directly linked to our microbiome-based project. This emphasizes gut microbiota modulation as a path to improved metabolism, sustained energy, and healthier weight outcomes.
Target Users
Design Thinking & Empathize Workshop: Target User Personas
As part of our Integrated Human Practices and Design Thinking process, our team adopted a human-centered design approach inspired by Stanford’s Design Thinking framework, which emphasizes scalability, flexibility, and applicability to complex real-world challenges.
We conducted an Empathize Workshop to better understand the diverse needs, motivations, and pain points of potential users of obesity treatments and preventive solutions. Rather than viewing obesity as a purely medical issue, we explored the lived experiences of individuals across different age groups, cultural contexts, and lifestyle situations.
Through this process, we applied tools such as user personas and journey mapping to capture emotional drivers, behavioral traits, and practical utility needs. This ensured that our solution would not only be scientifically effective but also socially acceptable, sustainable, and accessible.
The Empathize Workshop was in the form of a student-led co-creation session, where students used online collaboration tools such as Miro and FigJam. These digital whiteboards allowed participants to collectively map out what a typical person might think, feel, say, and do when faced with obesity and weight-management challenges.
By engaging every team member directly in the creative process, the workshop fostered collaboration that went beyond individual assumptions. Working together, the team was able to validate initial persona concepts and expand them with richer perspectives. The co- creation session produced detailed empathy maps and journey flows that surfaced subtle but critical insights, such as emotional triggers, trust barriers, and motivators for adherence.
This collaborative approach ensured that the personas reflected a diversity of real user voices, strengthening their authenticity and making the design process more credible, human-centered, and socially grounded.
Online whiteboard collaboration tools (e.g., Miro, Figma) enabled immersive, real-time coordination, allowing team members to co-create empathy maps and user journeys in a live, participatory setting.
Each team member contributed by filling out digital post-it notes on the online whiteboard.
As an outcome of this workshop, we developed four representative personas that highlight key user archetypes:
These personas guided our design of a probiotic yogurt supplement solution that integrates clinical evidence, lifestyle adaptability, and social impact.
By empathizing with these diverse user groups, our team identified common needs: natural and sustainable alternatives, integration with daily routines, stigma-free consumption, and digital tools for tracking and motivation. These insights directly informed the design of our microbiome-based solution.
Competitive Landscape of Anti-Obesity Treatments
Market Overview
- Dominant players (Novo Nordisk & Eli Lilly) define the current market with GLP-1 and dual agonists.
- Innovative challengers (Fractyl, EktaH) show the trend toward non-traditional mechanisms and delivery formats.
- Historic FDA-approved drugs tend to exhibit a trade-off between safety and efficacy.
- 2024 pipeline entrants highlight both opportunity and saturation in incretin-based drugs.
- Opportunity to differentiate from injection-heavy competitors by showcasing a microbiome / exosome approach that is safe, oral, supplement-like, and scalable for long-term maintenance.
| Company | Drug / Treatment | Mechanism | Regulatory Status | Strengths | Weaknesses | Key Takeaways |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novo Nordisk |
Wegovy (semaglutide) |
GLP-1 receptor agonist, weekly injection | FDA approved (2021) | Strong clinical evidence, market leader in GLP-1 obesity drugs | GI side effects, pancreatitis risk, injection burden, high cost, competition from oral GLP-1s |
• Sets benchmark for efficacy • We can differentiate with safety, accessibility, and long-term maintenance |
| Eli Lilly |
Zepbound / Mounjaro (tirzepatide) |
Dual GLP-1/GIP agonist | FDA approved (2023) | Greater weight loss than GLP-1 alone, rapidly growing market share | Same GLP-1 class risks, high cost, long-term safety still under study |
• Defines new efficacy ceiling • Our microbiome/exosome approach could complement GLP-1s in maintenance phase |
| Fractyl Health |
Revita (endoscopic / device) |
Duodenal resurfacing / GI-level modification | Device pending regulatory approval / trials | Device-based alternative non-drug option with fewer systemic risks | Invasive procedure, device regulatory hurdles, scalability concerns |
• Shows value of non-pharmacological intervention • Position as a safer, food-based alternative |
| EktaH | Orodispersible obesity treatment | Fat taste receptor agonists (tablet / spray) | Early stage / preclinical | Novel mechanism, less systemic burden | Very early stage, efficacy and safety unproven |
• Disruptive innovation spirit • Inspires alternative delivery formats |
Past Lessons
- Many past drugs were withdrawn (sibutramine, rimonabant) due to safety issues despite efficacy.
- Orlistat (still available) shows how tolerability issues cap widespread adoption.
Present Competition
- The obesity market is now dominated by GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP dual agonists (Wegovy, Zepbound/Mounjaro).
- These drugs work, but require injections, are expensive, and raise long-term adherence concerns.
Future Pipeline
- Many companies are diversifying (oral GLP-1s, MGAT2 inhibitors, amylin co-agonists).
- The 2024 R&D pipeline (from KISTEP/MetaPharm) shows crowded competition.
Opportunities
Unlike systemic injectable drugs, our microbiome/exosome-based approach can position itself as:
- Safer (avoiding systemic CNS/psychiatric/cardiac risks).
- Accessible (oral/supplement-like delivery).
- Sustainable (ideal for long-term weight maintenance post-GLP-1 use).
Benchmark Case Studies
Will Yogurt (Korea) – Daily Food Format Delivery & Compliant Messaging
Summary
Will was a yogurt-format product that addressed a common stomach-health problem through everyday, functional support. Our team learns from this by using a food-format delivery and compliant, “supports, not treats” messaging.
- Problem framing: Helicobacter pylori is prevalent among Koreans → stomach health concerns.
- Solution framing: A yogurt-format product for everyday consumption that supports a specific function (stomach health).
- Lesson for us: Position with everyday functional support messaging, not clinical “treatment” claims.
Key Takeaways
- Delivery (Yogurt Format) Works
- Everyday food → higher adherence and lower stigma than “medicine.”
- Friendly matrix for probiotics/exosomes; easy retail/D2C¹⁾ distribution and sampling.
- Leverages existing dairy manufacturing & cold chain for scale and QC²⁾.
- Messaging That Resonates (and Stays Compliant)
- Position as functional support, not treatment/cure.
- e.g., “supports healthy weight management,” not “treats obesity.”
- Use structure/function language (AMPK-linked metabolic balance) and pair with lifestyle context.
- Be transparent on evidence: in vitro signals now; human data planned.
- Include clear disclaimers and maintain stigma-free, inclusive tone.
- Position as functional support, not treatment/cure.
- What to Avoid
- Disease claims (“eradicates,” “cures,” “guarantees weight loss”) and overpromising efficacy.
- Confusing food products with drugs.
- Operational Implications
- Standardize exosome quantification, stability, sensory, and yield KPIs.
- Plan region-specific label copy and disclaimer modules (KR/US/EU).
- Practical Playbook
- Hero: “Supports Healthy Weight Management.”
- Mechanism tag: “Exosome-enriched L. rhamnosus (AMPK-linked).”
- Use guidance + disclaimer.
- A/B test mechanism-led vs. lifestyle-led copy for conversion and trust.
- Bottom line:
- Use a yogurt delivery for adherence and scale; message as safe, daily functional support with transparent evidence and compliant claims.
Figure 1: Will delivered benefits in a familiar yogurt format and framed claims as functional support rather than medical treatment.
Figure 2: From Will we learn to pair yogurt delivery with functional, compliant messaging supporting health in daily life without overclaiming
Figure 3: Will’s Product Detail Page³⁾ (Translation)
Recommended for:
1) “people concerned about everyday stomach
health”
2) “people who want a healthy gut.”
Key Takeaways:
- Clear targeting: Two simple personas — concerned and proactive users.
- Non-therapeutic audience tags: “People who want a healthy gut” is aspirational and inclusive, avoiding symptoms/disease terms.
- Everyday framing: “Everyday stomach health” normalizes daily use and signals a food product, not a medicine.
- Compliant tone: Reads as structure/function (supports normal function), not treatment → low regulatory risk.
Lesson Learned:
Use everyday, supportive language to target concerned and proactive users while staying in structure/function territory.
Figure 4: “What’s Special about Will — the Helicobacter
Project” (per product claims)
HP7
Patented
lactic-acid bacteria for stomach health
(Patent
No. 10-1823459)
X20
Patented strain
strengthened 20×
(compared with the original; based on Feb 2012
data)
Stomach-health ingredients
Traditional: Ganghwa mugwort, trifoliate orange extract
Folk-remedy
ingredients: cabbage, broccoli
Key Takeaways:
- Credibility without disease claims: Signals novelty and R&D investment while staying in structure/function territory.
- Easy fact-checking: A visible number lets consumers and regulators verify the filing, boosting trust and cutting “marketing fluff.”
- Shelf differentiation: “Patented strain HP7” + number acts as a distinctive asset vs. generic probiotics.
- Compliance-friendly proof point: A patent is not clinical efficacy, but it communicates substance more safely than therapeutic claims.
Lesson Learned:
Use the patent number as a trust anchor. Pair it with a plain-English benefit (“supports stomach comfort/metabolic balance”) and an evidence disclaimer (“preclinical only; human efficacy not established”).
Applying Lessons Learned to Essential Korea’s Lacto-Bexo: Safe, Claim-Aware Message Delivery
- Frame it as an everyday, food-format product (not medicine).
- Speak in structure/function language with transparent evidence.
- Add credibility cues (e.g., patent/mechanism badges) while keeping clear disclaimers.
Front (hero)
“A yogurt-format product designed to support healthy weight management via microbiome-derived exosomes.”
Back (functional explanation)
“Contains exosome-enriched Lactobacillus rhamnosus fermentate. In vitro studies show AMPK pathway activation and reduced lipid accumulation in adipocyte models. This product is intended to support healthy metabolism as part of a balanced diet and active lifestyle.”
Mechanism / Proof Cue (example format)
“Patented lactic-acid bacterium HP7 (Patent No. 10-1823459). Supports normal stomach well-being. Preclinical evidence; human efficacy not established.”
Disclaimers (choose per region)
- “Research-stage functional ingredients; human efficacy not established.”
- KR: “This product is not a health functional food.”
- US/EU style: “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
Noom Coach (US) – Digital Healthcare for Personalized Weight Management
Summary
Noom is a digital weight-management app combining micro-lessons, easy self-tracking (food, steps, weight, water), and optional coaching/community to build sustainable habits. A GLP-1 Companion pathway aligns behavior support with medications while keeping clinical prescribing separate.
Problem framing:
- Weight management fails without adherence; the hard part is sticking to the plan over time (adherence ≠ engagement!)[3]
Solution framing:
- Deliver continuous engagement and motivation via short lessons, simple tracking, and timely nudges (small, daily behaviors that compound).
- Position the app around behavior change + accountability to keep users engaged day-to-day.
Lessons for us:
- Lead with behavior change and personalization; keep a supportive, stigma-free tone.
- Avoid treatment claims or guarantees
- Maintain evidence transparency (“results vary with engagement”).
- Programs are under ongoing peer review[4]; outcomes hinge on user engagement.
- Apps can’t replace clinical care, but they can complement it to meaningfully improve results when engagement is high.
MACROS CALCULATOR
Ready for better? Let’s calculate your macros breakdown.
CALORIE DEFICIT CALCULATOR
Ready for better? Find out your BMR and discover your weight loss zone.
Psychology-based weight management (daily lessons, simple logging, and smart nudges to build habits that last.
MINI COURSES
Behavior change content that helps members manage side effects, overcome challenges, and build healthy habits.
PERSONAL SUPPORT TEAM
Enhanced coaching tailored to each member’s needs and a dedicated GLP-1 community that provides daily guidance and motivation.
WORKOUT ROUTINES
Personalized workout library focuses on muscle-building to maintain physical.
Figure 1: Noom recently added a GLP-1 Companion pathway that aligns behavior support with medication use, kept separate from clinical prescribing[3].
Figure 2: Pair any product (food or medication) with a personalized, trigger-driven adherence app for sustainable results beyond short-term effects.
Key Takeaways
What works
- Behavior first: Results come from daily habits (eat, move, sleep, log), not the product alone.
- App as adherence engine: Simple tracking, timely nudges, and short lessons keep people engaged.
- Personalization from day 1: A quick onboarding quiz sets user type and tailored goals.
- Micro-learning: 1–2 day mini-courses at key moments (start, side effects, plateaus).
- Human + community: Light coaching and peer groups add accountability and motivation.
- Design for continuous check-ins: The User Interface (UI) makes reporting symptoms and getting feedback fast (low-friction chat + canned responses).
- Clear guardrails: Supportive “supports/helps maintain” language, visible disclaimers, and prominent “not a substitute for medical advice” keeps claims compliant while still giving practical guidance
- Measure what matters: Track engagement (weekly active days, lesson completion), behaviors (protein hits, steps, ≥7h sleep), and trend (weight, side-effect burden for GLP-1 users).
- Strength focus: Accessible resistance-training routines to preserve muscle during loss.
What to Avoid
- Outcome guarantees or therapeutic claims (“treats,” “cures,” “X kg in Y weeks”).
- Mixing app messaging with medication prescribing.
- Overload (too many goals, alerts, or long lessons).
- Shame-based tone or vague privacy practices.
Practical Playbook
- Fast onboarding → personalized goals → daily micro-lessons + easy logging + context nudges + optional coaching → clear evidence & disclaimers.
Figure 3: Onboarding survey allows the app to profile the patient/user and recommend tailored goals and actions
Figure 4: Profile-matched, Personalized Plan for GLP-1 Support
Bottom Line
- Strong onboarding enables meaningful personalization: turning a generic program into my plan, which is why users engage longer and act more.”
Key Takeaways:
- Onboarding is the lever. A fast, friendly intake (8–10 binary questions) creates an immediate personal profile, so guidance feels relevant from Day 1.
- From profile to plan. Map answers to 3 keystone goals (e.g., protein target, step floor/NEAT[7], sleep window) and to the right nudges, mini-courses, and check-ins.
- Personalization beats generic. Users stick around when the app talks to their barriers (evening snacking vs. low energy) and their preferences (food-first vs. activity-first).
- Just-in-time, not just-in-case. Use the profile to time prompts (start, side-effects, plateaus) and surface micro-lessons exactly when they’re needed.
- Keep it simple, then adapt. Start with a light plan; progressively personalize as the app learns (engagement, logs, wearable data).
- Safety & trust. Personalization stays within structure/function language, with clear disclaimers and privacy transparency.
Lesson Learned:
- Do: Quick quiz → user type → 3 goals → tailored nudges/lessons.
- Don’t: Overwhelm at signup or promise outcomes; avoid medical/therapeutic claims.
Applying Lessons Learned to Essential Korea’s Lacto-Bexo: Turning Plans into Daily Actions
Lacto-Bexo Yogurt Companion App > probiotic-yogurt–first plan with an app that keeps people on track
Vision:
A behavior-first companion app that helps users build sustainable weight-management habits, centered on daily probiotic yogurt, with clear, compliant messaging.
Message:
Small actions. Every day. Big results.
“Behavior-first weight management—daily yogurt tracking, short lessons, and smart nudges to make healthy routines stick.”
Audience tags:
- “For people focused on everyday metabolic balance”
- “For people who want sustainable weight maintenance”
Evidence/Compliance badge:
- “Results vary with engagement. App does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.”
What the App Actually Does (yogurt-specific)
- Daily Yogurt Tracker: one-tap check-in, photo proof (optional), auto-streaks & reminders.
- Smart Prompts: nudge at the time you usually consume yogurt; travel/weekend modes.
- Habit Pairing: “Yogurt + Protein-First breakfast,” “Yogurt after walk” (stack habits to a routine).
- Mini-Courses (2 days each): Getting Started, Build a Breakfast Routine, Evening Craving Toolkit, Strength Basics (12–20 min resistance to preserve muscle).
- Personalization from Onboarding: quick quiz → pick your goal emphasis (Metabolic balance / Cravings control / Routine building) → 3 keystone goals for week 1 (Daily yogurt, Steps/NEAT floor, Sleep window).
- Coach-Lite & Community (optional): weekly check-in templates; peer tips and accountability.
- QR Evidence Hub: scan bottle → batch info, FAQ, “what we know / what we’re testing.”
- Privacy & Compliance: supportive structure/function language; visible disclaimers.
Value Pillars:
- Behavior-led: Psychology-based micro-lessons that turn knowledge into action (e.g., “design your morning yogurt routine”).
- Personalized: Quick onboarding quiz → tailored goals & nudges from day one.
- Supported: Coach-lite + community accountability (with clear medical boundaries).
- Just-in-time: Mini-courses & prompts triggered at key moments (plateaus, habit slips, travel days).
- Compliant & transparent: Supportive structure/function language, visible disclaimers, evidence clarity.
Onboarding Questionnaire to Support Hyper-Personalized Diet Plan
Our Yogurt Companion app uses a 60-second questionnaire to learn each user’s routine, barriers, and preferences. From that intake, the app automatically builds a personalized yogurt + habit plan and delivers smart nudges and mini-courses exactly when they’re most useful (e.g., morning routine, evening cravings, travel days).
Why it matters
This quick, friendly onboarding moves users from a generic program to your plan, making guidance feel relevant from Day 1 and easier to stick with over time.
How we communicate
We use supportive, stigma-free language and structure/function wording (e.g., “supports healthy routines”)—never medical or curative claims.
Clear boundaries
The app is a behavioral companion, not a medical device: It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Privacy first
We collect minimal data, and users have full control over reminders and what they share.
Two-Stage Onboarding Process
General Weight-Management Questionnaire
Your top priority right now is…
- Seeing the number on the scale go down
- Living more healthfully day to day
If you reached your preferred weight, you believe it would…
- Improve other areas of my life (energy, mood, confidence)
- Change little outside the scale
Which sounds more like you?
- I feel okay in my body at most sizes
- I’d feel better if I hit my target weight
How often does weight come to mind?
- It’s on my mind a lot
- Only when something triggers it
What gets in the way most?
- Outside factors (social events, tempting food around me)
- Inside factors (habits, low energy, not sure what to do)
Motivation check:
- Steady—I’m usually ready to act
- Up-and-down—some weeks I’m on, others I’m not
Which path feels more doable to start?
- Moving more (even short workouts)
- Changing how/what I eat
Lacto-Bexo Yogurt–Specific Onboarding
When would you rather have your yogurt?
- Morning B) Afternoon C) Evening
Breakfast pattern most days:
- Protein-forward B) Carb-heavy C) I usually skip
Biggest routine challenge:
- Protein goals B) Rushed mornings C) I forget D) Low energy
Typical daily steps:
- <5,000 B) 5,000–8,000 C) 8,000+
Sleep most nights ≥7 h?
- Yes B) No
Would reminders help?
- Yes B) No
Coach/community check-ins?
- Yes B) No
Any dietary preference to respect?
- None B) Vegetarian C) Lactose-sensitive D) Other
Already have a tracker app or do a short (10–20 min) strength routine?
- 0–1 B) 2 C) 3+
Persona Profiling
Based on responses, each user is initially mapped to one lightweight persona. The persona sets default goals, nudges, and mini-courses.
Illustrative Example
- Action-leaning
- Structure-seeker
- Education-leaning
- Motivation-booster
Find the plan that fits you
A short questionnaire matches the user to a personalized profile and generates a tailored yogurt + habit plan that adapts.
Supportive, stigma-free guidance for long-term weight management, centered on probiotic yogurt, customized from user profiles.
Business Model
Benchmark Insights
Drawing inspiration from benchmark cases such as Noom Coach and Will Yogurt, our team designed a hybrid business model that bridges digital health engagement and food-based wellness innovation.
- Noom Coach demonstrates how behavioral gamification and adaptive coaching can sustain long-term user motivation.
- Will Yogurt highlights the power of food-as-wellness positioning, emphasizing low regulatory risk and high consumer trust.
Together, these insights guided the development of Lacto-Bexo: a scientifically credible yet emotionally engaging solution that integrates microbiome science with everyday lifestyle usability.
Elevator Pitch: What is Lacto-Bexo?
“Team Essential is developing a food-format, exosome-enriched probiotic designed to support metabolic balance through the AMPK pathway. It aims to be a safe, accessible companion for long-term weight maintenance; not a drug replacement, but a daily tool that works with healthy habits.”
Business Model Canvas for Lacto-Bexo
5C Analysis
Building upon our business model foundation, we conducted a 5C analysis to identify strategic advantages and external alignment opportunities.
5C Analysis Framework for Entrepreneurship
To structure the insights gained from market research, competitor benchmarking, and user interviews, we applied the 5C Analysis Framework (Company, Customers, Competitors, Collaborators, and Context). This framework provides a systematic approach to evaluating both internal capabilities and external market dynamics in the process of commercializing our experimental idea.
- Identifying Internal Strengths – assessing the unique advantages of our team and technology.
- Exploring Market Opportunities – understanding growth potential and unmet needs.
- Understanding Customer Problems – capturing pain points and expectations from target users.
- Evaluating the Competitive Landscape – benchmarking existing solutions and differentiators.
- Building Strategic Partnerships – identifying potential collaborators and stakeholders.
- Considering the External Business Environment – accounting for regulatory, economic, and social factors.
5C Analysis for Team Essential’s Exosome-based Obesity Treatment
| Category | Key Insights |
|---|---|
| Company | Strong R&D foundation in microbiome-based exosome technology; cross-functional expertise (bioengineering, healthcare design, data analytics). |
| Customers | GLP-1 users seeking safe post-treatment maintenance; wellness-oriented consumers; insurers seeking preventive care integration. |
| Competitors | Global pharma (Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly) dominate GLP-1 market; functional food startups expanding “food-as-medicine” niche. |
| Collaborators | Academic labs (validation), food/biotech manufacturers (scaling), regulatory consultants (GRAS, safety labeling), wellness platforms (app integration). |
| Context | Rising obesity rates; national R&D policies supporting microbiome innovation (KISTEP, 2024); digital-health and functional-nutrition boom. |
Strengths:
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus–derived exosomes targeting adipogenesis/energy balance (AMPK axis)
- Strong interdisciplinary team (wet lab, dry lab, business, and design thinking expertise).
- Early in vitro data demonstrating reduced fat cell accumulation at higher exosome concentrations.
- Alignment with global health priorities (obesity epidemic, prevention-based care).
Weaknesses / Risks:
- Early stage, limited clinical validation.
- Clear safety & regulatory route needed (food/supplement first).
- Scale-up, QA, and stable manufacturing partners required.
Favorable Market Headwinds
5C Analysis Insights
Insights from the 5C Analysis highlight the emerging market “white space” for microbiome-based, food-format interventions that complement existing GLP-1 therapies.
Macro Trends Supporting Lacto-Bexo’s Growth
- Global Obesity Epidemic:
Over 1 billion people are affected by obesity[8], creating an urgent demand for sustainable weight-management solutions.
- GLP-1 Boom and Post-Treatment Gap:
GLP-1 drugs (e.g., Wegovy, Zepbound)[14][15] have proven efficacy but face limitations in cost, injection burden, and weight regain after discontinuation. This creates a major maintenance-phase opportunity.
- Policy and R&D Alignment:
According to the KISTEP 2024 Anti-Obesity Drug Development Report[12], government R&D investment in microbiome and metabolic pathway research grew by over 10% CAGR (2018–2022), signaling strong national-level support.
Key considerations for future R&D policy include:
- Diversifying beyond GLP-1 to include microbiome-based approaches, metabolic pathway modulators, and novel delivery formats.
- Strengthening cross-disciplinary research that integrates biotechnology, digital health, and nutrition science.
- Establishing regulatory and ethical frameworks for emerging obesity therapeutics.
- Ensuring equitable access to obesity treatments while managing healthcare costs.
Figure 1: KISTEP Government R&D Investment by Target Area (2018 – 2022)
Alignment with National R&D Priorities
Lacto-Bexo’s core research focus areas—Microbiome, Intracellular Signaling, and Lipid Metabolism Regulation—together account for over 30% of Korea’s government R&D investment.
This alignment underscores the project’s strong fit with national funding priorities for next-generation metabolic and obesity-related therapeutics, positioning Lacto-Bexo as a strategically eligible candidate for future R&D support.
Figure 2: Korea’s Strategic R&D Investment Priority (2024)[12]
Securing Government R&D Support
Our approach integrates these focus areas by leveraging Lactobacillus-derived exosomes to modulate the AMPK pathway, regulate lipid metabolism, and reshape the gut microbiome. This convergence not only advances scientific understanding but also positions our solution within key national investment areas, strengthening its potential for government or institutional R&D funding.
Together, these aligned domains provide a scientifically robust and policy-relevant foundation for sustainable obesity management innovation that extends beyond the limitations of GLP-1-based therapies.
- Shift Toward Functional Nutrition:
Consumers increasingly view food as preventive medicine, with energy, gut health, and metabolic balance topping purchase motivations[10].
- Rise of Digital Health Ecosystems:
Behavioral-coaching platforms (e.g., Noom) and personalized data-driven wellness programs have gained strong traction, opening opportunities for app-integrated microbiome solutions.
Figure 3: Consumer Adoption of Weight Management Approaches (2024)[10]
While exercise (82%) remains the leading weight-management behavior, it lies outside the scope of product-level intervention.
However, the next three dominant consumer behaviors (supplement use (31%), mobile health app engagement (28%), and structured meal plans (27%)) now represent the fastest-growing combined segment.
Our solution, integrating a microbiome-based supplement (probiotic yogurt), digital gamification app, and habit-tailored nutrition plan, directly aligns with these top three behavioral trends, positioning us at the intersection of science-backed wellness and daily usability.
Future Outlook: Integrating the Next Wave of Wellness Innovation
The long-term vision for Lacto-Bexo sits at the convergence of three accelerating global trends:
- Post-GLP-1 transition — a growing need for safer, sustainable weight maintenance after pharmacological treatment.
- Functional nutrition & microbiome science — the shift toward food-based prevention and personalized gut health.
- Digital wellness ecosystems — the rise of data-driven behavior change and continuous self-monitoring.
Building on these intersecting trends, Lacto-Bexo evolves beyond a single product into a connected platform:
- A microbiome-enhanced functional food that naturally supports metabolic balance.
- A digital layer that transforms everyday health routines into adaptive, gamified wellness journeys.
- A community-driven experience that bridges clinical credibility with consumer engagement.
This integrated approach positions ExoBiome as part of the next generation of holistic metabolic health solutions—bridging biotechnology, nutrition, and behavioral design for lasting impact.
Together, these market and policy headwinds create the perfect momentum for launching Lacto-Bexo as a next-generation obesity management solution.
Product Development Roadmap
From Insight to Impact
Through a combination of Design Thinking, market research, and policy alignment, our team structured a business and innovation framework that bridges biotechnology, nutrition science, and digital health.
Our Business Model Canvas defined the scientific and operational foundation of Lacto-Bexo, integrating microbiome-derived exosomes with scalable, food-based delivery systems. The 5C Analysis—covering Company, Customer, Competitors, Collaborators, and Context—helped us identify our unique positioning: a safe, accessible, and sustainable alternative to GLP-1 drugs, supported by a data-driven wellness platform.
From the market perspective, the rise of functional nutrition and post-GLP-1 maintenance demand confirms that consumers are seeking long-term, natural, and behaviorally engaging health solutions. Meanwhile, from the policy standpoint, our approach aligns with national R&D investment priorities in microbiome (11.6%), intracellular signaling (10.0%), and lipid metabolism regulation (9.8%), as outlined by KISTEP’s strategic roadmap. This intersection strengthens both our innovation credibility and funding eligibility.
Our development and commercialization roadmap (2025–2028) translates these insights into action:
Together, these steps represent a coherent path toward scientifically credible, policy-aligned, and human-centered innovation – advancing the next generation of sustainable obesity management solutions that merge biology, behavior, and technology.