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Dr Sreeraj Gopi, Founder, Managing Director, Molecules Biolabs
Molecules Biolabs, a 4-year-old Thrissur-based company has opened a state-of-the-art Global Innovation Center with an investment of Rs 8 crore at Kinfra Industrial Park in Koratti, where their primary innovation activities for nutraceuticals take place. The new facilities are focused on advanced delivery systems, including liposomes and micellar formulations, to improve the bioavailability and stability of bioactive compounds for the food and nutraceutical industries. In an interaction with NUFFOODS Spectrum, Dr Sreeraj Gopi, Founder, Managing Director, Molecules Biolabs shares his journey and plans for future growth. Edited experts:
In less than five years, Molecules Biolabs has achieved a milestone in crossing revenue of Rs 100 crore. How was this journey so far and what were the challenges so far?
The journey has been a mix of challenges and breakthroughs. My expertise in liposomal research, including my PhD work at Deakin University, laid the scientific foundation. The IP generated from this research directly helped us create differentiated technologies. At the same time, my role as an advisor to several global companies gave me a platform to recommend ingredients I had invented, which helped build trust and early adoption. The main difficulties were scaling without external funds, establishing credibility as an Indian innovator in a global market, and ensuring every claim we made was backed by science.
How have you managed to run the organisation without raising any funds? Do you have any plans to raise funds now?
We have been bootstrapped from the beginning. In fact, our customers came even before the organisation itself—we built science, gained trust, and then set up the company. I often say that “our customers are our friends,” because we were highly selective in choosing partners across the globe. This approach meant that we required almost no money for marketing—our technologies spoke for themselves. So far, this model has worked beautifully. Looking forward, we may consider funding or strategic partnerships only if they align with our vision of expanding into large-scale consumer products or global infrastructure, but we will never compromise on being science-first.
Now that the organisation has expanded its facility from 1000 sq ft to 35,000 sq ft, how will you be making use of this space in terms of new hiring or expanding R&D activities, manufacturing, etc.?
The new space allows us to expand in multiple directions. We are strengthening our core R&D in advanced delivery systems, scaling manufacturing capacity to meet global demand, and setting up a collaborative innovation centre for global partnerships. Importantly, we have created a separate division—Akore Formulations, where my wife Dr Akhila leads that division—focusing on niosomal topical solutions, while Molecules has evolved into an umbrella brand driving innovation across liposomal and other delivery technologies. We also have a Padmalife Nutrition for performance nutrition helmed by my brother Dr Sreerag. For example, our patented Metasome is a next-generation, dry, stable liposome platform for supplements; OMICS delivers higher bioavailability with a clean-label approach; and SELGM is a self-emulsifying lipid-gel matrix with strong potential for oral delivery. This expansion also means significant hiring across research, QA, and manufacturing.
What new plans do you have for the group for the coming years?
Our roadmap is threefold. First, we aim to strengthen our position as a global leader in liposomal and other advanced delivery technologies for supplements and functional foods. Second, we are committed to building Molecules into a true innovation hub, fostering collaboration with international institutions and companies to develop next-generation delivery systems. Finally, we will expand our manufacturing capabilities and global outreach while diversifying applications into biomedical research and health-focused functional foods.
Your business is addressing the needs of industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods & Beverages, Biomedical Research. What percentage of business these industries contribute to your sales and where do you see more growth coming from and why do you see so?
At present, nutraceuticals and functional foods contribute around 70 per cent of our revenue, while pharma and biomedical applications make up the rest. The biggest future growth lies in functional foods and beverages, because consumers want convenient, science-backed, and clean-label products. Our delivery technologies make unstable activities stable in RTD beverages and powders, which gives us a unique advantage in this rapidly growing category.
You have developed three technologies namely Metasome, OMICS and SELGM with a good number of patents both national and international. How do you see potential for these technologies in the market?
Our portfolio of technologies is designed to tackle the core challenges of the nutraceutical industry. Metasome offers stable, dry liposomal beadlets that represent true next-generation solutions for supplement markets. OMICS is a platform that delivers higher bioavailability, clean-label formulations, and full-spectrum actives without unnecessary excipients. SELGM, a self-emulsifying lipid-gel matrix, ensures enhanced absorption and stability of challenging ingredients. Together, these technologies directly address three of the industry’s biggest bottlenecks—stability, bioavailability, and scalability—positioning them for strong global adoption.
How do you differentiate Molecules Biolabs from other nutraceutical firms?
Unlike most firms that simply manufacture or trade, Molecules group is research-driven. We publish extensively in peer-reviewed journals, hold international patents, and have conducted 20+ bioavailability studies on our liposomal ingredients. Another unique positioning is our model of collaborative research—we actively partner with companies and institutions worldwide, enabling them to access our technologies. We want Molecules to be seen as a global hub for innovations in delivery science.
How do you ensure sustainability and purity in ingredient sourcing?
We follow a strict traceability protocol, sourcing only from partners who provide proof of sustainability, origin, and purity. All botanicals are tested for pesticides and contaminants, and we insist on consistent active content. In processing, we use green extraction methods like supercritical CO₂ and water-based extractions to minimise chemical residues. This ensures that our ingredients are both pure for consumers and responsible for the environment.
Which are the research or clinical trials that Molecules Biolabs has published about its products?
We have 200+ peer-reviewed papers and numerous patents. For example, our work on natural carbon quantum dots from Withania somnifera was published with antiviral applications against SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus. Our liposomal berberine and Metasome formulations have been validated through in vitro permeability and bioavailability studies. We are committed to publishing and clinically validating every major innovation, which ensures credibility in global markets.
There is debate on whether nutraceuticals should be regulated under the Department of Pharmaceuticals through the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) instead of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). As a scientist working in this field, what are your views and where nutraceuticals should be placed?
Nutraceuticals sit between food and pharma, but in practice they function closer to foods. My view is that they should remain under FSSAI, but with stronger, science-based regulations. Stricter requirements for quality, stability, and even clinical validation would prevent misuse and build consumer trust. Moving to CDSCO could over-pharmaceuticalise the sector and slow down innovation. A hybrid model—food regulation with scientific rigor—is the most balanced solution.
Narayan Kulkarni