Last week’s big news included the actions against 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) in the United States and Korea, the U.S. FDA delaying its response on NMN and dsm-firmenich’s new three-step solution to tackle cellular senescence.
7-hydroxymitragynine targeted in the US and Korea
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on July 29 that it is recommending a scheduling action to control certain 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products under the Controlled Substances Act.
Meanwhile, in a separate announcement, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) banned the importation on dietary supplements, jellies and beverages containing 7-OH and urged consumers to refrain from these products when doing cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) purchase.
7-OH appears in low levels in the kratom leaf, part of a tree species grown in Southeast Asia. A man-made alteration to the leaf’s naturally occurring alkaloids can significantly increase 7-OH levels.
Synthetic 7-OH is 13 times more potent than morphine, significantly increasing the risk of dependence and overdose, according to kratom experts.
The scheduling announcement in the United States followed a medical and scientific analysis by FDA staff and seeks to address growing concerns around the increased availability and use of 7-OH opioid products. The agency added that there are no FDA-approved 7-OH drugs, 7-OH is not lawful in dietary supplements, and 7-OH cannot be lawfully added to conventional foods.
“After the last wave of the opioid epidemic, we cannot get caught flat-footed again,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, shared in a statement ahead of a July 29 live stream press conference on X.
“7-OH is an opioid that can be more potent than morphine. We need regulation and public education to prevent another wave of the opioid epidemic.” control certain 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products under the Controlled Substances Act.”
In South Korea, the regulator’s announcement was specifically directed at the cross-border e-commerce purchase of products containing 7-OH, spanning dietary supplements and products in general food formats like jellies and beverage mixes.
The MFDS said that a total of 297 overseas products containing 7-OH will be blocked from entering South Korea via overseas direct purchase.
Based on information released by the U.S. FDA, the MFDS has also flagged out 13 products containing 7-OH.
US FDA delays response on NMN Citizen Petition
The FDA delayed its response to a citizen petition regarding nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), citing agency-wide staffing reductions and administrative setbacks.
The petition, filed by the National Products Association (NPA) and the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in March 2023, seeks regulatory clarity on NMN as a dietary supplement.
“FDA has been working consistently and diligently on its response to the Citizen Petition, but, due to unforeseen circumstances, the agency will not be able to complete its response by the end of July 2025,” the July 28 status report update reads. “Among other things, FDA experienced a significant reduction in force (RIF) on April 1, 2025, including in the Human Foods Program (HFP) and Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) offices that are primarily responsible for developing the agency’s Citizen Petition response.”
FDA now expects to issue a final decision on the petition no later than Sept. 30, one that may not only decide the fate of NMN but also set precedent for how the agency handles other supplements facing IND preclusion in the future.
dsm-firmenich takes aim at cellular senescence
dsm-firmenich has launched a three-step solution to tackle cellular senescence, as part of its research and innovation in targeting the hallmarks of aging.
The company showcased the three-step solution during its “Aging Redefined – a Longevity & Health Expectancy Seminar" held on July 17 in its Singapore office.
dsm-firmenich said earlier that it would be researching and developing solutions to target four hallmarks of aging: cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and dysbiosis.
To tackle cellular senescence, the company has developed a three-step solution that protects, boosts and renews cellular health.
Cellular senescence is a process in which cells lose function including the ability to divide and replicate but continue to secrete molecules that damage neighboring cells.
As these cells accumulate over time, they can contribute to aging and age-related diseases, since they create a pro-inflammatory environment that leads to chronic inflammation.
“Cellular senescence is a complex topic, and by breaking down the solutions into three different steps, we believe it will help educate consumers on the approach and better explain the rationale for the different ingredient combinations behind the solution,” said Endrigo Ramos, global lead for longevity at dsm-firmenich.
