From the “Hermès of the Antioxidant” to Global Inclusivity: GeneIII Biotech Rewrites Industrial Rules
On February 25, 2025, GeneIII Biotech and Professor Barry Halliwell, an international authority on anti-aging, the founder of the free radical theory of aging, and the “Father of L-Ergothioneine Research,” officially launched the L-Ergothioneine scientific research cooperation agreement at the National University of Singapore. This cooperation marks a crucial step for Chinese enterprises in the global anti-aging scientific research field and reconfirms GeneIII Biotech’s strategic determination to “drive industrial upgrading through technological transformation.”
Ding Wei, the founder and chairman of GeneIII Biotech, granted an exclusive interview to Forbes. A seasoned industry leader who previously helmed the China operations of multinational giant A.O. Smith and the Hengjie Group, with over 20 patents, Ding Wei, shared with his characteristic pragmatism and passion, to recount how GeneIII achieved to break through from laboratory research to industrial-scale production, and became a “Chinese Calling Card” in the international anti-aging arena. He also firstly provided an in-depth interpretation of the strategic significance of the scientific research cooperation with Professor Halliwell.
I. Technological Breakthrough: Synthetic Biology Technology Brings L-Ergothioneine to the Masses with “Gold-Priced”
“GeneIII Biotech has spent three years to achieve comprehensive leadership in the quality, production capacity, and cost of L-Ergothioneine, so that it can be accessible to thousands of households.” – Ding Wei
L-Ergothioneine, a natural antioxidant discovered in 1909, is hailed as the “Hermès of the antioxidant world” for its ultra-small molecular structure and unique protective mechanism for cellular mitochondria. However, for a long time, L-Ergothioneine could only be extracted from mushrooms such as Ganoderma lucidum and Matsutake. Its cost remained stubbornly high, making large-scale application difficult.
In 2021, Ding Wei led his team to establish GeneIII Biotech, focusing on the trend of synthetic biology technology. “The traditional extraction method was destined to be unable to meet market demand. We had to reconstruct the production chain with an engineering mindset,” Ding Wei explained. Through the synthetic biology technology, GeneIII successfully completed the “four-stage relay” of L-Ergothioneine strain construction, fermentation, purification, and engineered mass production. The purity of the L-Ergothioneine raw material has reached 99.99%, with a monthly production capacity of 3 to 5 tons, which can satisfy the supply demands of the global market. It has reduced the raw material cost by 90% and enabled the company to rank among the world-class manufacturers of L-Ergothioneine raw materials.
Leveraging its advantage of raw materials, GeneIII’s L-Ergothioneine Capsules quickly topped the sales charts in the L-Ergothioneine category on Tmall and JD.com. The outstanding performance in the terminal market has propelled China to become the core hub of the global L-Ergothioneine supply chain. Moreover, GeneIII Biotech has always played a leading role in the product application of L-Ergothioneine. In 2023, GeneIII Biotech participated in formulating the Chinese group standard Cosmetic ingredient – Ergothioneine, which is the first group standard for L-Ergothioneine in China. In 2024, GeneIII Biotech took the lead in formulating the group standard Specification for Quality and Safety of Ergothioneine Eye Wash for Eye Care. In terms of raw material safety, GeneIII Biotech has passed the US Food Safety GRAS certification, paving the way for its global layout.
II. Strategic Upgrade: Collaborating with Professor Halliwell to Usher in a New Era of Anti-aging Research
“Our scientific research cooperation with Professor Halliwell is a historic handshake between scientific theory and industrial practice.” – Ding Wei
On February 25, 2025, the signing ceremony of the scientific research cooperation between GeneIII Biotech and Professor Barry Halliwell was successfully held at the National University of Singapore. Representatives from the Singapore Enterprise Development Agency (ESG), the research institute of the National University of Singapore, GeneIII Biotech and its client representatives jointly witnessed this historic moment.
Professor Halliwell is the founder of the free radical theory of aging. With more than 50 years of research on free radicals, he has provided crucial theoretical support for the anti-aging mechanism of L-Ergothioneine. It is reported that Professor Halliwell is not only one of the most highly cited scientists globally (with an H-index of 171), but he has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for Free Radical Biology and Medicine and the “Citation Laureate” award from Clarivate Analytics.
At the signing ceremony, Professor Halliwell shared the anti-aging effects of L-Ergothioneine (EGT) in the fields of oral intake, skin care, and eye care. He stated that low EGT levels were associated with various diseases, and exogenous supplementation of EGT can improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, protect dopamine neurons, and relieve eye discomfort. “I am very grateful to GeneIII Biotech for its support in the research of L-Ergothioneine, especially in the field of eye research,” emphasized by Professor Halliwell in his speech.
Chairman Ding Wei stated that this cooperation stemmed from a deep resonance between two parties. “Breakthroughs in theoretical research require large-scale and high-purity raw material support from the industrial side. Leveraging our advantage in L-Ergothioneine raw materials, we have applied it to dietary supplements, skin care products, and eye wash products, receiving positive market feedback. Official data showed that during the 618 and Double 11 shopping festivals, L-Ergothioneine capsules of GeneIII had ranked the first on the best-selling lists of Tmall Global and JD.com, and topped the search list for L-Ergothioneine on the Xiaohongshu platform.”
Ding Wei revealed that a series of scientific research projects on L-Ergothioneine are set to launch, particularly focusing on the benefits of L-Ergothioneine in the field of eye health.
III. Reshaping Industry Benchmarks with Pharmaceutical-Grade IIT Clinical Research to Overcome the Dilemma of Efficacy Verification
“Make products with the meticulous craftsmanship of pharmaceutical manufacturing to establish a drug–like trust.” – Ding Wei
While the beauty, personal care, and dietary supplement industries still rely on laboratory data for marketing, GeneIII Biotech is venturing into the “Depopulated Zone” of efficacy verification with pharmaceutical-grade rigor.
It is reported that in the field of eye wash applications, GeneIII Biotech is the first enterprise in the industry to conduct an IIT clinical trial for eye wash (IIT: Investigator-Initiated Trial). The trial results showed that after using GeneIII’s L-Ergothioneine eye wash, the scores of the dry eye questionnaire scale at the end of the trial, the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, and the visual fatigue scale score were all significantly reduced among the subjects. The first tear film break-up time and the average tear film break-up time was both significantly higher than the mean values of the baseline period.
In the field of dietary supplements, GeneIII Biotech is currently conducting clinical trials on L-Ergothioneine capsules in collaboration with Grade-A tertiary hospitals. The results of the stage-by-stage analysis show that aspartate aminotransferase level, alanine aminotransferase level, gamma-glutamyl transferase level and other liver function indicators were all significantly reduced after the subjects supplemented with L-Ergothioneine of GeneIII for 15 and 30 days. These findings suggest that L-Ergothioneine has a certain protective effect on the liver.
IV. Industry Integration: Reshape the Industrial Value Chain and Rejuvenate Core Value
“The inevitable path for any product to become a great commodity is to endow it with enduring commercial vitality. For the first instance, Coca–Cola is transformed from a medicinal formula into a delightful beverage; for the second instance, De Beers is associated diamonds with eternal love. I would hope that L-Ergothioneine can be empowered by the third transformation to bear the meaning of youthfulness.” – Ding Wei
The core capabilities of commercial innovation are shown in two aspects: creating value and leading consensus. The success of GeneIII Biotech stems from Ding Wei’s profound insights into the logic of industry – by mastering core technologies, promoting the industrial transformation of traditional technologies, and forming a closed-loop system of “Technology Research and Development → Industrial Production → Product Transformation → Market Expansion → Capital Operation → Continuous Innovation.” This model provides a learnable path for the industry.
During discussing the equity structure and management philosophy, Ding Wei candidly admitted that he was deeply influenced by Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei: “Only when the core employees jointly hold shares can the driving force of the team be stimulated. As the oldest member of the team, I would prefer to gather the enthusiasm of all employees for the cause through leadership and exemplary actions.”
In addition, Ding Wei integrated 23-year management experiences in multinational enterprises into the corporate culture of GeneIII Biotech, achieving the efficient integration of the management concepts of traditional foreign-funded enterprises and local innovative enterprises. This cultural integration not only improves organizational efficiency but also lays the foundation for the company’s globalization strategy.
The reshaping of commercial value lies not only in product innovation but also in the integration and reconstruction of the entire chain of “Research and Development – Production – Market – Capital.” Through the breakthrough of core technologies, GeneIII has transformed L-Ergothioneine from a rare ingredient into a product accessible to the general public. This process has not only created the significant commercial value but also brought new development opportunities to the entire anti-aging industry.
V. Future Outlook: Anti-aging Technology Benefits to Every Ordinary Person
“If L-Ergothioneine can only serve 1% of the high-end population, then our innovation is meaningless.” – Ding Wei
Towards the end of the exclusive interview, Ding Wei shared the long-term vision of GeneIII Biotech: Create An “Anti-aging Ecosystem” based on the core of L-Ergothioneine. In addition to continuously expanding its application scenarios, GeneIII plans to launch “L-Ergothioneine+” compound formula products. By combining Biocalth and other ingredients, it aims to create a synergistic anti-aging effect. Moreover, the company is exploring an integrated model of “Raw Materials – Products – Services”. For instance, it is collaborating with medical institutions to develop the personalized anti-aging solutions.
“Professor Halliwell’s message in the Book of L-Ergothioneine – ‘Warm respect for innovative products’ – is the greatest inspiration to our team,” Ding Wei said. “However, our true success lies in transforming the former unattainable ‘Cutting-edge Technology’ into an available daily choice for everyone.”
Professor Halliwell, the “Father of L-Ergothioneine Research”, left the message in the Book of L-Ergothioneine to GeneIII Biotech: “To warming respect and thanks for marketing of innovative products”.
Epilogue: The Rise of China’s Synthetic Biology Power
From ranking among the top in the category within three years to collaborating with international academic giants, the journey of GeneIII Biotech testifies to the explosive power of Chinese enterprises in the synthetic biology track. In the blueprint drafted by Ding Wei, GeneIII aims not only to become the “Global Factory” for L-Ergothioneine but also to redefine the future of the anti-aging industry with Chinese wisdom. As Professor Halliwell aptly stated, “Science transcends national boundaries, and GeneIII has convincingly shown that innovation can emanate from every corner of the world.”
