Dr. Clark Chen Explains the Scientific and Technological Breakthroughs Behind Nutrilite™ iCell Drink

By combining cutting-edge scientific research and innovative technology, Nutrilite™ iCell Drink not only addresses cellular aging but also aims to extend healthy lifespan. In this article, we invited research expert Dr. Chen to delve into the scientific principles and technological breakthroughs behind Nutrilite™ iCell Drink.

A: Amway C: Dr. Clark Chen

A: Could you share the initial motivation behind the development of Nutrilite™ iCell Drink?

C: The development of Nutrilite™ iCell Drink was based on three key factors. First, the global trend of population aging is becoming more serious. Many regions, including China and Hong Kong, are transitioning from moderate aging to severe aging society. The development of an aging society urgently requires effective anti-aging solutions.

Second, our anti-aging products have a clear market positioning, aiming to improve people’s healthy lifespan. According to data, the average life expectancy in China is 77.4 years, but the healthy lifespan is only between 68 to 69 years, leaving an 8 to 9 year gap in which people experience declining health. Our goal is to reduce this gap and enhance healthy longevity.

Finally, Nutrilite has been focusing on plant-based nutrition and health for over 90 years, striving to bridge nutritional gaps and offer more balanced and comprehensive supplementation. From a business growth perspective, the anti-aging market holds enormous potential and will be a key strategic direction for future expansion. Therefore, we have placed anti-aging at the core of our future development plans.

A: What are the key scientific principles or technological breakthroughs that support the creation of Nutrilite™ iCell Drink?

C: We were fortunate to receive scientific backing from the latest research advancements during the development of Nutrilite™ iCell Drink. In March 2023, the internationally renowned journal “Cell” published a groundbreaking study outlining the "12 Hallmarks of Aging". This report provided the latest global scientific insights into cellular aging and became the theoretical foundation for our product development.

Additionally, we utilized our internally developed AI-powered botanical research platform—the Smart Herbal System. This platform allows us to rapidly screen and identify effective anti-aging ingredient combinations from hundreds or even thousands of plant molecules, significantly increasing research efficiency. With this technology, we can scientifically validate the anti-aging benefits of these formulas.

A: During the product development process, what was the biggest challenge, and how did your team overcome it while driving innovation?

C: We faced multiple challenges in developing Nutrilite™ iCell Drink. First, deepening our understanding of cellular aging was a major obstacle. Traditionally, anti-aging research focused on eliminating oxidative stress and free radicals, but after the “Cell” journal published its hallmarks of aging study, our perspective on aging expanded further. We focused on building expertise in anti-aging research, incorporating AI-driven ingredient screening, and conducting extensive experimental data collection in areas such as DNA repair, cellular function enhancement, and anti-inflammatory effects.

To tackle these challenges, we established Amway’s Human Anti-Aging Research Center in Shanghai, which officially launched before the Nutrilite™ iCell Drink release in 2023. Additionally, we partnered with Hong Kong Polytechnic University to establish a joint laboratory for phytonutrients and aging research. These collaborations have strengthened our capabilities in anti-aging science, integrating AI analysis, cellular mechanism studies, and ultimately developing a holistic anti-aging framework.

Another challenge was time constraints—we had to ensure product quality within a limited time frame. We maintain strict standards for raw materials, preferring ingredients sourced from our certified farms or strategic partners. Take dendrobium officinale flower as an example—this rare botanical blooms only from May to June each year and must be quickly processed after harvest. Extracting just 1 gram of the essence requires 320 grams of raw flowers, posing a significant supply chain challenge. Despite these hurdles, our team successfully ensured timely product launch.

The entire research and development process took six years, while building the supply chain took an additional one to two years. Since 2021, we have invested in development, completing the process by 2023. This success was not solely the work of our research team—it was a collaborative effort between China’s market team, technology development department, and supply chain procurement division.

A: How do you see Nutrilite™ iCell Drink reflecting trends in the health and nutrition industry? Will Nutrilite introduce similar innovative products in the future?

C: Anti-aging products are not just a future trend—they represent the current demand. Both society and consumers are increasingly seeking solutions for healthy aging and longevity, making anti-aging a major market focus.

As our first cellular anti-aging product, Nutrilite™ iCell Drink is only the beginning. We plan to expand into more cellular anti-aging solutions and even explore organ-focused anti-aging innovations. Nutrilite will continue launching cutting-edge products under the vitality & longevity product line.

We are also actively developing proprietary anti-aging ingredients, researched exclusively by Amway scientists and backed by strong scientific evidence. While we cannot reveal details yet, we are confident in our future innovations.

I want to emphasize that our success depends on a strong team. In developing Nutrilite™ iCell Drink, we spent over six years with more than 60 scientists working in the research division alone (excluding marketing, supply chain, and business teams). Throughout this period, we analyzed over 60,000 plant nutrients, leveraging our Smart Herbal System for billions of data calculations.

These numbers reflect the power of collaboration, demonstrating our unique strengths in research and development.