A decade of research, innovation and growth marks a new chapter for Iconthin Biotech and Astadaily®

TORONTO, Ontario — September 2026 — This year marks an important milestone for us at Iconthin Biotech: our 10th anniversary.

Since our founding in Toronto in 2016, we have focused on advancing microalgae science and translating that work into high-quality natural ingredients and consumer products. Over the past decade, that commitment has taken us from research and development to controlled microalgae cultivation, processing, supercritical CO₂ extraction and finished product development.

As we celebrate 10 years, we are also entering a new stage of growth for Astadaily®, our consumer wellness brand, with expanded retail availability, new scientific and regulatory milestones and growing recognition for product quality.

Expanding Astadaily® Across Canada

One of our most exciting developments this year is the continued expansion of Astadaily® in the Canadian retail market.

Astadaily® products are now available through Nutrition House, one of Canada’s established health and wellness retailers. We have also expanded into Calgary Co-op, strengthening our presence in Western Canada and making our natural astaxanthin supplements more accessible to Canadian consumers.

For us, this retail growth represents more than additional shelf space. It reflects the next step in bringing the science and technology we have developed over the past decade directly to more people.

Our goal has always been to connect scientific research with practical, high-quality products. Expanding through trusted Canadian retailers helps us continue that mission while introducing Astadaily® to a broader audience.

Advancing Microalgae Science

Research remains at the foundation of everything we do.

Our integrated microalgae platform covers strain selection, indoor controlled cultivation, processing and supercritical CO₂ extraction, with much of our work centred on Haematococcus pluvialis, a natural source of astaxanthin.

In 2026, our AlgaeAsta® ingredient division reached an important scientific milestone with the publication of peer-reviewed research in Elsevier’s Aquaculture. The study evaluated microalgae-derived astaxanthin ingredients in rainbow trout feed and examined factors including growth, colouration, nutrient retention, antioxidant capacity and gut microbiome composition.

Among the supplemented diets evaluated, AlgaeAsta® microalgal powder achieved the highest numerical net apparent retention of astaxanthin.

The publication builds on our long-term effort to advance natural, microalgae-derived astaxanthin and explore its potential across aquaculture, animal nutrition and other applications.

Reaching a New Regulatory Milestone

Alongside the publication of our aquaculture research, AlgaeAsta® also received approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for animal feed applications in Canada.

This approval enables compliant commercial use of AlgaeAsta® within Canada’s regulated aquaculture feed sector and strengthens the foundation for our continued development in animal nutrition.

For us, peer-reviewed research and regulatory acceptance are closely connected. Together, they help move microalgae-derived ingredients from scientific development toward broader commercial application.

Recognized for Product Quality

2026 has also been an important year for Astadaily® product recognition.

Astadaily® products received six international awards and distinctions during the year, reflecting growing recognition of our work in natural astaxanthin, product quality and innovation.

Among these milestones, Astadaily® Astaxanthin Pure became the first astaxanthin supplement brand to receive the Clean Label Project® Purity Award.

The Clean Label Project® program includes independent testing for substances of concern such as heavy metals, pesticide residues and plasticizers. Products receiving the Purity Award must also perform among the top one-third of tested products within their category.

For our team, this recognition reflects the quality standards we have worked to build throughout the entire process, from controlled microalgae cultivation and extraction to formulation and finished-product testing.

Reaching our 10th anniversary gives us an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come, but our focus remains firmly on what comes next.

We will continue investing in microalgae research, cultivation technology, product development and quality while expanding the reach of both AlgaeAsta® and Astadaily®.

We are grateful to the researchers, academic collaborators, retailers, distributors, industry organizations and customers who have been part of our journey so far.

As we enter our next decade, our mission remains the same: to advance microalgae science and use that knowledge to develop natural, high-quality and responsibly produced ingredients and products.

We look forward to sharing the next chapter.