BioHarvest says Olive Cell asset is commercial-ready, opens CDMO licensing

BioHarvest Sciences Inc. announced on October 13, 2026 that its proprietary Olive Cell composition has reached commercial readiness and is now available for licensing and commercialization through the company's CDMO business.¹

The company said this milestone marks completion of its development pathway for Olive Cell, from plant-cell development and optimization through large-scale bioreactor scale-up, commercial manufacturing readiness and completion of the applicable self-affirmed U.S. Generally Recognized as Safe process.¹ BioHarvest's GMP manufacturing infrastructure is positioned to begin commercial production in accordance with the requirements and timing of a future customer or partner.¹

The composition is derived from Olea europaea fruit, a standardized olive fruit cell powder whose primary polyphenol is Verbascoside, a hydroxytyrosol derivative.¹ The company said it delivers Verbascoside at substantially higher and more consistent levels than natural olive fruit or conventional extracts.¹

BioHarvest cited preclinical findings previously reported in a March 2025 release. In an oleic-acid-induced steatosis model using HepG2 human liver cells, Olive Cell reduced intracellular lipid accumulation by up to 37% compared with controls.¹ In a separate TGF-β1-induced fibrosis model using LX-2 hepatic stellate cells, Olive Cell reduced collagen type I accumulation by up to 50%, with both effects demonstrating dose-dependent activity.¹ The company cautioned that these in-vitro results do not establish efficacy in humans.¹

BioHarvest noted following VINIA, its first commercialized plant cell compound derived from red grapes, Olive Cell represents a second distinct plant-cell-derived composition to advance through development, large-scale manufacturing and the applicable U.S. self-affirmed GRAS process.¹

The company stated the self-affirmed GRAS conclusion relates to applicable intended uses and does not constitute FDA approval or establish efficacy for any disease or medical condition.¹ It also said there can be no assurance that BioHarvest will enter into licensing, partnership, supply, royalty, ownership or other commercial agreements relating to Olive Cell, or that a clinical development program will be initiated or completed.¹