Dolcas Biotech Spotlights Innovative Delivery Forms and Family-Driven Vision

With dietary supplements in high demand, brands that combine scientific rigor with innovative delivery systems and transparency across the supply chain are best positioned to stand out. Dolcas Biotech, a New Jersey-based nutraceutical company, is embracing that challenge with a family-led team, a forward-thinking product strategy, and a deep bench of clinical research.

At Vitafoods Europe in Barcelona this year, Dolcas Biotech showcased its marine-based collagen branded as Morikol and its next-generation turmeric extract Curcugen. The company is doubling down on product differentiation through high bioavailability, lower dosing, and novel applications that meet consumer demand for functional foods that don’t compromise on quality or efficacy.

“People are bored with traditional capsules and tablets,” said DolCas Biotech CEO KG Rao. “Consumers want something unique, something different. We’ve responded with formats like gummies, wafers, chocolates, and even oral dispersible strips.”

Marine Collagen: Dual Benefit and Versatile Delivery

Collagen has become a top in-demand ingredient for the dietary supplement industry, but consumer understanding is still evolving. Dolcas’ Morikol collagen is derived from tilapia and offers a compelling alternative to higher-dose bovine or porcine collagen products, Rao said.

While many collagen supplements require doses of 10 to 20 grams per day, Morikol delivers clinically validated benefits at just 1 gram, thanks to its high concentration of tripeptides and a proprietary standardization by GPH (Gly-Pro-Hyp peptide sequence). That smaller dose opens the door to a wide range of innovative formats.

“We’ve developed two-capsule regimens, gummies with no fishy taste, and even chocolates,” Rao said. “A single 2-gram chocolate square can deliver the full clinical dose, and we’ve validated those benefits with human studies on skin elasticity, hydration, and joint health.”

The company is also experimenting with a fruit juice-based wafer that dissolves in the mouth, delivering the full dose with a pleasant sensory experience. “The minute you put it in your mouth, it melts,” he added. “And it’s all-natural — just freeze-dried juice with Morikol.”

This dose efficiency also makes Morikol well-suited for food-based formats, allowing consumers to incorporate collagen into their daily routines without high amounts of sugar.

Curcumin Innovation, from the Inside Out

Another highlight from Dolcas Biotech is Curcugen, a turmeric-derived ingredient developed to overcome the challenges of curcumin formulation, from poor bioavailability and pungent taste to formulation issues like staining and instability.

Curcugen is a 100% turmeric-derived extract that retains native essential oils, BDMC, DMC, polysaccharides, and other naturally occurring turmeric compounds. The company’s proprietary process enhances absorption without using non-native additives or synthetic enhancers, Rao said.

“Most companies fortify turmeric extracts with ingredients that aren’t naturally present,” he noted. “With Curcugen, we’ve done everything naturally — it’s clean label, it’s 100% turmeric, and we’re seeing absorption levels that are 39x higher for free curcumin and over 50x for total curcuminoids.”

Rao added that Dolcas has demonstrated 31x higher levels of tetrahydrocurcumin, a bioactive metabolite, in human plasma, a metric few in the industry have even measured.

Beyond traditional uses for inflammation and joint support, Curcugen is showing promise in areas like gut health (IBS), exercise recovery, and even advanced medical applications. A research team at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York recently conducted comparative testing of various curcumin extracts for transdermal absorption. Curcugen was the only product that showed meaningful absorption in patch form, Rao said.

That success has led to emerging studies on sickle cell disease, organ preservation, and osteoarthritis, including applications via transdermal patches. The company has also pushed the boundaries of delivery with formats like high-dose gummies, packing 250 mg of Curcugen into a 3-gram gummy, and dark chocolate bites.

“We’ve reduced staining by 40-50% compared to typical curcumin products, and taste is much milder,” Rai said. “That’s due to the natural essential oils we preserve in the process.”

Backed by Science, Built by Family

Dolcas Biotech’s focus on clinically supported ingredients is nothing new. The company has conducted more than 50 clinical trials over the past 20 years across its product portfolio. That commitment to science-first development informs every product launch and reformulation, Rao said.

“We invest heavily in research because we want to ensure every product works, and that we can prove it,” he added.

That scientific integrity is matched by a deeply personal passion. Dolcas is a family-run company, and multiple generations are now involved in daily operations. Rao’s son and daughter-in-law recently joined the business, with his wife (a biochemist) also heavily engaged in formulation and research.

“It’s become a true family effort,” Rao said.

That ethos of care and responsibility extends to the company’s supply chain as well. Dolcas maintains Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification for Morikol and works closely with partners in Japan and Taiwan. The company even organizes plant visits for customers to offer full transparency, from raw material sourcing to production.

Navigating Global Challenges

Despite company growth and an expanding portfolio, Dolcas, like many ingredient suppliers, faces external pressures, including tariffs and rising material costs. While the company’s sourcing strategy has helped buffer some of those challenges, the impact on pricing is real.

“There’s a ripple effect,” Rao noted. “If we have to increase prices by 10% or 20%, that affects everyone — customers and ultimately consumers. We’re always looking for ways to minimize costs, but it’s getting more difficult.”

Still, Dolcas Biotech remains committed to its dual mission: to innovate and to maintain integrity. With more studies in the pipeline and additional product forms on the horizon, the company is positioned to keep redefining what high-quality supplementation can look like — in a gummy, a wafer, or a square of dark chocolate.