Wellbiotech Signs Industry-Academia Cooperation Agreement... "Promoting Regenerative Medicine and Cosmetic Business Using PDRN"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Wellbiotech is partnering with companies and universities conducting research and production of core materials for regenerative medicine to actively enter the regenerative pharmaceuticals and cosmetics markets.

Wellbiotech announced on the 20th that it has signed an industry-academia cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sewon Life Science and Gunsan University College of Marine Science to promote regenerative pharmaceuticals and cosmetics businesses utilizing marine biological resources.

Through this MOU, Wellbiotech plans to actively promote regenerative pharmaceuticals and cosmetics businesses using PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide) and PN components jointly with Sewon Life Science and Gunsan University College of Marine Science.

Gunsan University College of Marine Science is a university that conducts research and education in both fisheries and marine fields. Professor Han Hyun-seop of the Department of Marine Life Science majored in fisheries science, aquaculture, and biological resource production in Japan and served as the director of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute. He is regarded as the top authority in Korea in fisheries aquaculture, genetic breeding of aquatic organisms, and smart aquaculture engineering. Professor Han will be responsible for overall matters related to biological resources such as salmon, which are the raw materials for PDRN, the core substance of this project.

Founded in 2013, Sewon Life Science is a bio venture company focusing on new drug and veterinary drug development and commercialization of biological resources based on peptide materials. It currently holds about 70 patented substances and possesses proprietary production technology for PDRN and PN.

PDRN and PN extracted from salmon germ cells are natural substances with excellent effects on cell growth and tissue regeneration. PDRN is used as a pharmaceutical such as intra-articular injections by utilizing its anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and tissue repair effects. It can also be developed into bio cosmetic products for regenerating and improving damaged skin caused by aging, ultraviolet rays, acne, scars, and more.

Starting with this industry-academia cooperation MOU, Wellbiotech’s strategy is to rapidly establish the foundation for regenerative medicine and cosmetics businesses through ▲ raw material supply contracts ▲ securing production facilities ▲ substance extraction related to PDRN and PN.

A Wellbiotech official stated, “To expedite commercialization, we have already signed a contract with Sewon Life Science for the contract manufacturing of PDRN,” adding, “We plan to operate an ‘industry-academia-government’ R&D lab involving universities, research institutes, local governments, and companies for the research and development of PDRN products.”

He further stated, “We plan to first launch cosmetic products using PDRN next year and release regenerative treatment specialized bio pharmaceuticals by 2023 after filing pharmaceutical patents and obtaining approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.”