Abstract: When we started extracting tea catechins in grams-Kgs for the first time in the world since around 1985, many researchers wanted to have those samples for their study to prove the health benefits of tea. I supplied those samples to them, such as Epigallocatechin gallate(EGCg) and other minor catechins for free, for nearly 10 years before selling them to Sigma. Potent health promoting effects of tea catechins induced explosive expansion in two ways: one is a booming green tea bottled drinks and the other is the strong enthusiasm for the study of cancer prevention and on other diseases. I supplied kgs of Polyphenon®E(EGCg70%) and pure EGCg to the Clinical Trials Program of NCI(US National Cancer Institute) starting from 1996. Separately, I got involved in the pharmaceutical project of treating Genital Warts(caused by papilloma virus) by Polyphenon®E ointment from 1999 in the States. In 2006, US FDA approved the marketing of Veregen® in the States as a Genital Warts Healing Ointment with 10% Polyphenon®E as an API(Active Pharmaceutical Intredient). It was the first ever “Botanical Drug” approved by FDA.
In recent years, several projects, EGCg as an API, are seeking pharmaeutical sponsors
*A project to treat CIN(Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia) by EGCg suppossitory is now under Phase 2 trial.
*A project to treat sexual pain(vulvodynia) and enhance sexual arousal by EGCg ointment.
*A project to treat IBD(Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) by EGCg capsule intake.
*And others.

Biography: Yukihiko Hara graduated from Tokyo University, Agric Dept. in 1967 and joined Mitsui Norin Co. In the laboratory he started to separate tea catechins from green tea, the first ever trial in the world. He earned a Ph.D. from Tokyo Univ. in 1990 for his thesis: "Physiological Activities of Tea Polyphenols". He supplied kgs of EGCg/Polyphenon®E (70% EGCg) to NCI (National Cancer Institute-USA) for their “Clinical Chemoprevention Program” from 1990 and shared the complete safety/toxicity data of Polyphenon®E/EGCg done by NCI. After he left Mitsui Norin Co., he established his own, Tea Solutions, Hara Office Inc. in 2008. He earned funding of 7 million USD in 5 years from Japan Science and Technology Agency and led the program and the team of many labs for the basic study of “tea beverages” to compete with Coke in the world market. He earned the first Lu Yu (陸羽) Award (2021) from the Chinese Tea Academy for his contribution to the world tea science and technology.
These years, he has been involved in various clinical trials to treat/prevent various diseases with pure EGCg, manufactured by an FDA certified facility in China, as an API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) with various labs and firms which will take many years to reach the market.