Duolac Gives Back: Cell Biotech Launches Cognitive Care Classes for Gimpo Seniors

Cell Biotech, the biotech company behind the domestic probiotic brand Duolac, is channeling its gut-brain axis research into a tangible community initiative aimed at improving the health of senior residents near its headquarters in Gimpo.

The company announced Tuesday it is launching a community welfare program called "Happy Classroom: Connecting Memories," designed to share and apply its probiotic-based cognitive health research among elderly residents in Gimpo. The program goes beyond one-time product donations, positioning itself as a differentiated ESG (environmental, social and governance) model that directly applies the company's long-accumulated R&D expertise to improving local residents' health.

At the heart of the program is the provision of a high-value product built around CBT-LR5 (KCTC 12202BP), the company's patented probiotic strain whose efficacy has been validated through cognitive health research. Cell Biotech plans to supply participating seniors with Duolac Gold — its flagship product containing the patented strain — to maximize the real-world impact of its research findings.

CBT-LR5 is a proprietary patented probiotic strain Cell Biotech developed based on the gut-brain axis mechanism. Through clinical research, the company established its potential to improve cognitive health in older adults. In a human application trial involving subjects with suspected mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at an average age of 68.9, participants showed an 18.9 percent improvement in total scores on the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K). Subsequent animal model studies further identified the molecular biological mechanisms through which the strain contributes to cognitive function improvement.

Happy Classroom: Connecting Memories is being rolled out sequentially at senior centers across Gimpo in partnership with Byeolbit Kkum, a specialized education company focused on cognitive care for the elderly. The program combines professional cognitive education with a range of brain-stimulating activities, including crafts, coloring and physical exercises. Instructors certified as "Silver Cognitive Convergence" specialists — who completed a specialized curriculum through Gimpo University's RISE (Regional Innovation System and Education) project — lead the sessions on-site, raising the program's overall educational quality.

Beyond this program, Cell Biotech has pursued a range of community engagement efforts, including donating 500 kilograms of white rice to the Gimpo Welfare Foundation in February and delivering more than 1,000 items collected through a voluntary employee drive to a Goodwill Store to support job creation for people with disabilities.

"This program is significant as the first step in returning Cell Biotech's validated probiotic-based cognitive health research to the community," said Lee Hyeon-yong, factory manager at Cell Biotech. "Going forward, Cell Biotech will continue to expand ESG activities that contribute to community health based on our R&D capabilities, and we will work to create social value that supports healthy aging."