US-based APS Biogroup, founded by managing director Keech, is now "knocking on the door of $100 million" for the Immulox product, selling it in 50 countries around the world.
"Our main markets are in Vietnam, China, Southeast Asia and Africa where it's being used to try and treat Aids. Really we're growing everywhere," Keech said.
Colostrum contains high levels of immunoglobulins which help the body fight infections, as well as activating the immune system in newborns.
Colostrum products have been used as supplements for around 30 years, however according to Keech, Immulox is the first product which concentrates the peptides to such a high level.
Growing up on a dairy farm in Taranaki opened Keech's eyes to the benefits of colostrum, something he says inspired him to study biochemistry and immunology as well as engineering at university.
In 1997, Keech moved to Phoenix, Arizona to build his colostrum business in the area of the world with "the highest concentration of dairy cows", where colostrum milking could be done year-round, as opposed to only in spring in New Zealand.
Now one of the biggest manufacturers of colostrum in the world, APS Biogroup collects colostrum from around 200 dairy farms with 20,000-odd cows in the Phoenix area.
The success of the health products company has seen sales growth of around 30 per cent yearly in the colostrum side of the business, with overall growth of 70 per cent for the past year.
The company moved into a new 11,000sq m building in Phoenix in August last year and has already outgrown it, purchasing the building next door to allow for expansion.
So far, colostrum has no documented side effects or negative impacts outweighing the more than 10,000 studies on peptides in colostrum which document its benefits, Keech said.
Due to the identical nature of mammalian peptides, colostrum can be taken by any mammal including humans without harm.
"Colostrum balances the immune system. Every disease that humans get is immune related, it's where our bodies aren't working properly," Keech said.
"Our immune system every day is being challenged by allergens and food preservatives and new stuff causing allergies and auto-immune disorders, and colostrum will actually reset our immune system," he said.
"This is great news for people who regularly get sick as well as sufferers of auto-immune diseases and allergies due to a hypersensitive immune system."
Keech hoped to obtain a drug licence so that the company could promote Immulox as a medical treatment rather than as a supplement, and further develop colostrum and immune system-focused products.
Immulox
• Is made from concentrated colostrum - the first milk of pregnant mammals.
• Can be used by anyone but is specifically targeted at people with over-active or weakened immune systems.
• Available as a spray and a powder.
