ADM and Asahi Expand Innovation and Applications for Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic

• ADM and Asahi's expanded exclusive licensing agreement makes L. gasseri CP2305 available for innovation within the beverage category across additional global regions
• New clinical research demonstrates measurable changes in brain activity and stress-related responses within an hour after consuming L. gasseri CP2305¹

CHICAGO - ADM (NYSE: ADM), a global leader in innovative solutions from nature, is advancing its portfolio of science-backed postbiotic solutions through an expanded licensing agreement with Asahi, bringing Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic to new applications and markets around the world.

The expanded agreement makes L. gasseri CP2305, a postbiotic targeting support for mood, stress, sleep and more, available for use in beverage applications in additional global regions. This further enables ADM to support its customers in developing convenient solutions that can help address significant consumer wellness needs.

Simultaneously, new clinical research demonstrates that L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic was associated with measurable changes in brain activity associated with relaxation and resting state during the one-hour study period1, adding to previous research exploring the gut-brain axis.

Published in Frontiers in Nutrition, the double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical study included 28 healthy adults who consumed either a single dose of L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic tablet or a placebo control tablet. Researchers evaluated brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG), along with heart-rate variability (HRV) using electrocardiogram (ECG) and measures of subjective mental stress and mood.¹

"Through continuous innovation, we help our customers anticipate evolving consumer needs and bring new solutions to market," said Mark Lotsch, ADM's President of Global Health and Wellness. "By combining our scientific expertise, deep market insights and ongoing investment in research and development, we continue to advance our capabilities and identify new avenues to deliver solutions that meet consumers where they are.

"Our expanded licensing agreement with Asahi, which now enables L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic's use in beverages, is one example of how we deliver meaningful value for our customers and consumers," continued Lotsch.

"We are excited to expand the global reach of L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic through our strengthened collaboration with ADM," said Yoshitomo Kanaoka, Managing Corporate Officer, Asahi Group Foods, Ltd. "By combining Asahi's scientific expertise with ADM's strong commercialization capabilities, we look forward to bringing the benefits of L. gasseri CP2305 to more consumers around the world and supporting the continued growth of the postbiotic category through innovation across food, beverage and supplement applications."

Postbiotics Pave the Way
Postbiotics like L. gasseri CP2305 represent an important evolution in microbiome innovation by offering a combination of clinically documented functionality and formulation flexibility. As a postbiotic, L. gasseri CP2305 can withstand numerous formulation environments, including tough conditions like high-heat or high-water content commonly associated with functional foods, beverages and certain supplements like gummies.

The expanded distribution agreement between ADM and Asahi broadens access to L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic to beverage applications, in which it can retain efficacy in beverage formulation environments and throughout shelf-life, not requiring refrigeration.^2,3,4 It also builds upon ADM's postbiotic suite, helping customers bring innovative, convenient wellness products to consumers around the world.

Next-Generation Research and Innovation Potential
As consumers increasingly recognize the connection between gut health and overall well-being, postbiotics offer an emerging avenue for brands to deliver science-backed benefits beyond traditional supplement formats. ADM's consumer research highlights demand for solutions that support sleep, stress and mood, while also underscoring an opportunity to bring these benefits into convenient, everyday food and beverage formats.⁵

ADM is helping bridge this opportunity with L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic, which has shown beneficial effects on sleep, stress and mood.^2,3,4 The latest research published in Frontiers in Nutrition provides exciting results related to both brain activity and stress-related responses following a single dose.¹ Finding a measurable response in an hour-long study is a remarkable advancement for microbiome science, directly validating how dynamically the gut and brain communicate.

One of the study's primary findings showed a significant increase in alpha brain activity following consumption of L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic compared with placebo.¹ Alpha brain activity is associated with relaxation, eyes-closed rest and resting state of wakefulness.⁶ The effect was observed across several areas of the brain, including the frontal, parietal and occipital regions. Secondary results included:
• Improvements in heart rate variability, a marker linked to parasympathetic nervous system activity, often referred to as the body's "rest and digest" response because of its role in supporting relaxation and digestion.¹
• Changes in mental-stress scores measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) were significantly lower and tension-anxiety scores decreased following consumption of L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic compared to placebo.¹

L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic also increased serotonin release by six-fold from intestinal cells in vitro.¹ These results suggest a potential new mechanism of action that a postbiotic may modulate neurotransmitter production in the gut, influencing communication along the gut-brain axis.

Furthermore, additional clinical studies suggest L. gasseri CP2305 can provide support for women's health needs. In healthy young women experiencing premenstrual symptoms, L. gasseri CP2305 postbiotic may support reduced stress and anxiety, support positive moods, decrease vaginal discharge, enhance skin appearance and reduce occasional constipation.⁷ In women experiencing menopause, it may support passive physiological and emotional changes based on two validated questionnaires.⁸

"ADM is focused on helping customers unlock different opportunities in nutrition as consumer expectations evolve," said Lotsch. "L. gasseri CP2305 Postbiotic is an example of how we are translating scientific research to help inform the development of next-generation nutrition solutions."

Learn more about ADM's microbiome capabilities here.

References
¹Tanihiro et al., (2026) Frontiers in Nutrition 13:1796729
²Nishida, K., et al., (2017) Journal of Applied Microbiology 123:1561-1570
³Nishida, K., et al., (2017) Journal of Functional Foods 36:112-121
⁴Nishida, K., et al., (2019) Nutrients 11:1859
⁵ADM Outside Voice℠, Sleep, Stress, Mood Report, 2025
⁶Zhang et al., (2024) Sci Rep 14, 26719
⁷Nishida, K., et al., (2021) Journal of Functional Foods 80 :104426
⁸Sawada, D., et al., (2022) Nutrients, 14 :1695

About ADM
ADM unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life. We're an essential global agricultural supply chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities. We're a premier human and animal nutrition provider, offering one of the industry's broadest portfolios of ingredients and solutions from nature. We're a trailblazer in health and well-being, with an industry-leading range of products for consumers looking for new ways to live healthier lives. We're a cutting-edge innovator, guiding the way to a future of new bio-based consumer and industrial solutions. And we're leading in business-driven sustainability efforts that support a strong agricultural sector, resilient supply chains, and a vast and growing bioeconomy. Around the globe, our expertise and innovation are meeting critical needs from harvest to home. Learn more at www.adm.com.

ADM Media Relations
Jackie Anderson
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312-634-8484