La Paz Selected for Ministry of Sanitation National Project... "Plan to Secure Advanced Microneedle Technology"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Lapas is participating in a national project promoted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), following the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Ministry of Science and ICT. While carrying out this national project, Lapas plans to secure new advanced solid and hollow microneedle technologies that enable rapid mass production in addition to its existing self-developed dissolvable microneedles, supported by over 3 billion KRW in research funding.

Lapas, a specialized company in microneedle pharmaceutical patches, announced on the 7th that it was selected for the ‘2022 Excellent Corporate Research Institute Development Project (ACT+)’ conducted by MOTIE, recognizing the innovation and growth potential of its microneedle technology. Lapas signed a business agreement with MOTIE to enhance R&D capabilities and advance microneedle technology.

Through this, Lapas will receive a total of 3.325 billion KRW in research funding from MOTIE and, under Lapas’s leadership, will collaborate with the ‘Nano Micro Electronics Lab’ at Kansas State University in the U.S. to conduct research aimed at ‘developing mass production technology for 3-D diffraction micro-lithography-based solid hollow-type microneedles with a fracture strength of 0.15N.’

The 3-D diffraction micro-lithography technology is based on semiconductor exposure technology and uses light to quickly and easily produce solid and hollow microneedles with diverse and freeform designs.

Lapas plans to develop a new manufacturing process for solid and hollow microneedles that enables mass production, different from the existing microneedle production method using 3D printers. Solid and hollow microneedles are known to have relatively superior drug permeability and dosage compared to other formulations.

A Lapas representative said, “Through this project, we will establish infrastructure to produce solid coated and hollow microneedles in addition to the dissolvable microneedle processes we have already secured. Using the developed processes, we plan to apply the produced solid and hollow microneedles to various new business fields such as cosmetics, drug delivery, healthcare, and medical sectors, and conduct planning and research for new microneedle patch products to secure market leadership.”

He added, “Through this, Lapas will become the world’s first company to secure production and commercialization capabilities for all types of microneedle formulations and will solidify its position as a global leader in the microneedle manufacturing field.”

The Excellent Corporate Research Institute Development Project is a program implemented by MOTIE to select corporate research institutes of domestic small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies with innovative research capabilities, strengthen their R&D capabilities through various supports, and promote corporate growth to nurture them as key agents of business innovation. Selected companies receive support for costs related to securing high-level personnel and core patents, as well as establishing R&D planning and management systems.

Lapas was selected for this development project by receiving high scores in rigorous evaluation procedures including △evaluation of company and affiliated research institute overview △evaluation of alignment between growth strategy and affiliated research institute growth strategy △evaluation of cooperation targets △evaluation of technical characteristics of R&D projects.