Sophy beta-glucan

Sophy beta-glucan is a water-soluble beta-1,3/1,6-glucan biologic produced by the black yeast *Aureobasidium pullulans* strain AFO-202. Manufactured by Sophy Inc. in Japan, it is primarily marketed as a nutraceutical and food additive under the brand name Nichi Glucan. The compound functions as an immunomodulator by acting as an agonist for immune cell receptors, specifically Dectin-1 (CLEC7A), Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2), and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4). It has been investigated in clinical trials for its potential therapeutic effects in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Parkinson's disease, and as an adjuvant for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. It was officially approved as a food additive by the Japanese government in 1996.

Brand names

Nichi GlucanSophy Glucan

Other names

Aureobasidium pullulans beta-glucanAFO-202 beta-glucanAFO202 beta-glucanAFO 202 beta-glucanbeta-1,3-1,6-glucan