Biotech company TRG Natural Pharmaceuticals draws on New Zealand’s abundance of natural products, such as kānuka honey and bee venom-based treatments, and strong clinical trials to develop and license natural pharmaceuticals, which are exported to the US.
Jordan Small
Executive Director, NZUS Council
TRG Natural Pharmaceuticals draws on New Zealand’s abundance of natural products to develop and license natural pharmaceuticals, which are exported to the US. As a biotech company, TRG applies strong clinical trials to prove the efficacy of each product, which includes kānuka honey and bee venom-based treatments.
TRG works with the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, supported by Callaghan Innovation and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, to publish research in peer-reviewed journals such as the British Medical Journal that confirms their products’ health and wellbeing credentials.
An advantage of conducting R&D in New Zealand is the ability to carry out international standard clinical tests, meaning their research passes the highest bars of clinical best practice. In addition, the skills and talent needed are readily available in New Zealand and allow R&D to be cost-effective.
The high quality of TRG’s research is important when it does business in the United States, the global centre of the Natural Pharmaceuticals industry and market. Consumers demand high standards, and health and wellbeing claims need to be substantiated. Trusted research practices and well published professionals mean results are readily accepted and help TRG to directly engage with top tier pharmaceutical companies.
Rather than establish in-house distribution networks, TRG has partnered with US based Taro Pharmaceutical Industries to brand and distribute their range of products in the US. This is a win-win, allowing Taro to leverage the New Zealand R&D environment to build a portfolio of natural health brands with proven efficacy.