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From Taiwan Fungi to the Global Antimicrobial Market: Dr. George Tsai’s Journey of Innovation at AMS BioteQ
AMS BioteQ, founded by Dr. George Tsai in 2018, focuses on drug development and innovative medical materials research. The company leverages Taiwan’s unique natural resources and has successfully expanded into the global anti-infection market. Dr. Tsai’s research was driven by his personal experiences, which led to a deep awareness of the threat of drug resistance. He hoped to work with his team to combat the human enemy—“infectious diseases.”
Local Species and the Mission to Combat Infections: Uncovering Active Compounds in Cultivated Fungi
The founding of AMS BioteQ is deeply rooted in Dr. Tsai’s personal story and his strong sense of mission for global health issues. While pursuing a Ph.D. in pathology at National Chung Hsing University, Dr. Tsai came across an article in Nature magazine in 2014. The report emphasized that bacterial drug resistance was becoming a major global health threat. Growing drug resistance means common antibiotics will gradually lose their effectiveness, presenting a serious challenge to healthcare systems. This discovery made Dr. Tsai consider natural solutions, especially Taiwan’s unique fungal resources, which might offer breakthroughs in the fields of antibacterial and antiviral treatments.
Dr. Tsai’s passion for research was inspired not just by academic interest but by the personal difficulties his family faced. His grandfather passed away from a drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection related to terminal liver cancer, while his grandmother died from a pressure ulcer infection caused by prolonged bed rest. These experiences highlighted the inadequacy of existing antibiotics, motivating Dr. Tsai to develop new anti-infection drugs to prevent similar tragedies in other families.
In his research, Dr. Tsai became particularly interested in Taiwan’s unique fungus—Antrodia camphorata. This fungus gained attention due to its rich biological activity, with some components even proven to have significant anti-cancer effects. At that time, Antrodia camphorata was primarily studied for its anti-cancer potential, with few scientists exploring its applications in antibacterial and antiviral treatments. Thus, Dr. Tsai decided to investigate and find new components with antibacterial or antiviral properties.
After years of effort, Dr. Tsai and his team successfully isolated two compounds—YUAN-01 (AMS-1) and YUAN-03 (AMS-3)—from Antrodia camphorata. These compounds performed excellently in laboratory antibacterial tests, particularly in inhibiting drug-resistant bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, a major pathogen causing hospital infections. These research results became the technical foundation for the establishment of AMS BioteQ.
Antiviral Drug Breakthrough: The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Rise of Natural Products
The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 posed unprecedented challenges to the global healthcare system. Countries sought effective preventive and therapeutic measures, but there was a lack of specific drugs for SARS-CoV-2. AMS BioteQ quickly entered this field. Dr. Tsai and his research team collaborated with Professor SuiYuan Chang from the National Taiwan University College of Medicine to screen potential compounds from their natural product library to inhibit the coronavirus.
Through this collaboration, AMS BioteQ identified two compounds, YUAN-01 and YUAN-03, which showed potential antiviral effects against COVID-19. In cell experiments, these compounds demonstrated significant inhibition of viral replication, with YUAN-03 showing particularly strong inhibition of SARS-CoV-2, offering great potential. AMS BioteQ’s research results gained industry recognition and helped the company successfully enter the capital market in 2021, further advancing its drug development process.
Beyond COVID-19, AMS BioteQ expanded its research to other challenging viruses, including the Dengue virus, Zika virus, and Avian Influenza virus. These viruses continue to pose threats to human health, with no widely effective vaccines or treatments currently available. Therefore, AMS BioteQ used its rich natural product library to conduct large-scale screenings and identified AMS-2140, a compound with strong antiviral effects.
In animal experiments, AMS-2140 showed excellent inhibition of multiple viruses, especially in Dengue and Avian Influenza experiments. These results prompted AMS BioteQ to push AMS-2140 toward clinical trials and collaborate with international partners to explore its potential applications in more clinical indications.
Global Public Health Challenges: Research Strategies for Prevalent Viruses: Dengue, Zika and Bird Flu Targeted
Dengue fever and Avian Influenza have always been key research focuses for AMS BioteQ due to their significant threat to public health, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Millions of people are infected with Dengue fever annually in Southeast Asia, leading to severe symptoms and deaths. In countries like Thailand and Brazil, Dengue infection rates continue to rise, which not only threatens the health of local populations but also places enormous pressure on global public health systems.
AMS BioteQ collaborates with Mahidol University and Chulalongkorn University in Thailand to study the four serotypes of the Dengue virus (Dengue Virus Serotype 1-4). Using an AGB6 mouse model to simulate human Dengue hemorrhagic symptoms, AMS-2140 demonstrated strong antiviral effects, significantly reducing mouse mortality and laying the foundation for the development of Dengue drugs.
In its Avian Influenza research, AMS BioteQ worked with Kaohsiung Medical University and Mahidol University to study highly pathogenic strains of the virus, such as H5N1 and H7N9. Avian Influenza not only affects poultry health but can also be transmitted to humans, causing potential pandemics. AMS-2140 showed good antiviral effects in animal experiments. Mice treated with this compound exhibited significantly improved survival rates after infection with high-pathogenic Avian Influenza, indicating AMS-2140’s medical potential and offering a new solution for preventing the spread of avian epidemics.
Dr. Tsai also shared that the Thai government places great emphasis on controlling Dengue and Avian Influenza. In the past, the government mainly used mass culling of poultry to prevent the spread of the virus. However, this method is costly and severely impacts farmers’ livelihoods. AMS BioteQ proposed using AMS-2140 as a preventive treatment, hoping to control the epidemic more effectively and economically, reducing the impact on farmers. This research strategy could reduce economic losses from epidemics and significantly enhance responses to public health challenges.
Early Licensing: The Survival Strategy for Small Companies
AMS BioteQ is a biotech startup that centers its strategy on early licensing. Early licensing involves granting the rights to drug development outcomes to large pharmaceutical companies in the early stages in exchange for financial support and technical collaboration. According to a 2024 JP Morgan report, the value of early-stage licensing in investment rounds and patent licensing is increasing. In the first half of 2024, the value of such patents reached between $24 million and $47 million. Although early licensing is rare for biotech companies in Taiwan, AMS BioteQ adheres to this approach.
The original intention behind founding AMS BioteQ was to concentrate limited resources and create maximum impact. Dr. Tsai believes early licensing is a pragmatic survival strategy for biotech companies. Developing a drug from research to market approval typically takes 10 to 15 years, which is a massive challenge for capital-limited small companies. Taiwan’s capital market has high expectations for biotech firms, but not every company can secure sufficient funding. Therefore, capital and research success are two lifelines for biotech companies. Adequate funding and successful research must progress simultaneously to ensure long-term company growth.
Dr. Tsai sees early licensing as an effective way to attract investors, especially for startups like AMS BioteQ. This model is already common abroad, where many biotech companies license promising research to large pharmaceutical companies or engage in joint development. This not only brings rapid income but also helps establish collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, enhancing the company’s development potential. Dr. Tsai drew inspiration from visits to well-known biotech companies and advice from Dr. Chien-Hsien Jan (詹啟賢), Chairman of ADIMMUNE, who told him, “A road not yet traveled by others does not mean it cannot be successful.” This reinforced Dr. Tsai’s belief that AMS BioteQ should forge its own path, using early licensing to break through funding and research bottlenecks, seeking sustainable development opportunities for the company.
Rising to New Heights: Innovative SIPSIP Series Dressing Medical Devices Targeting the Challenging Japanese Market
AMS BioteQ Biotech focuses not only on drug development but also actively invests in innovative medical device research and development, especially products for chronic wound care and infection prevention. The SIPSIP Foam Dressing is a prime example. AMS BioteQ initially targets the Japanese market with this product, designed specifically for the elderly, to treat burns and chronic wounds. The dressing features excellent water absorption and antibacterial properties, promoting wound healing. According to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the SIPSIP Foam is the only foam dressing approved for the Japanese market since 2024. This recognition highlights its high quality and effectiveness in the market.
In terms of market positioning, AMS BioteQ has selected Japan as the primary market for its innovative medical products. It partners with local collaborators to drive the product into medical channels. Japan is one of the world’s most aging nations, creating strong demand for high-quality medical products. AMS BioteQ’s product line perfectly meets this demand. Through partnerships with local entities, AMS BioteQ not only gains quick market access but also leverages the local distribution network to rapidly expand product promotion.
Furthermore, AMS BioteQ is also developing the innovative SIPSIP Pro Gel Dressing. This product aims to provide an effective yet economical solution for deep wound treatment, offering an alternative to expensive collagen products on the market. These advancements in medical devices represent a significant breakthrough for AMS BioteQ in the medical field and are a key step in enhancing its global market competitiveness.
Future Overall Strategy and Cross-Industry Collaboration
AMS BioteQ plans to launch at least five innovative dressing products by 2026. These will include foam, gel, composite, hemostatic, and antibacterial designs, enhancing the functionality and practicality of medical devices to meet diverse wound care needs.
Additionally, AMS BioteQ has introduced the “Vitality Drink,” targeting cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. The product aims to improve their quality of life. Clinical studies show that after three months of consuming the Vitality Drink, patients experience significant improvements in physiological indices, emotions, family interactions, and health metrics.
AMS BioteQ is also progressing to the next stage of clinical trials, focusing on head and neck cancer patients. The trials will examine the effects of consuming the Premium Vitality Drink ‘Chi’ prior to radiation therapy. In cellular experiments, the team found that cancer cells treated with this Vitality Drink before radiation had a significantly higher mortality rate. Moreover, normal cells were protected. The team also plans to conduct trials with palliative care patients to reduce painkiller usage and improve patient awareness during their final stages of life. The clinical trial has already been approved by the IRB of E-Da Hospital, marking a significant encouragement for AMS BioteQ and the research team.
In the next two years, AMS BioteQ aims to complete the clinical trials for its dressings and expand sales regions. This will benefit more patients requiring wound care and further expand the company’s market influence. The series of innovative dressing products not only represent AMS BioteQ’s technological breakthroughs but also demonstrate its competitive potential in the global medical dressing market.
