Moalife Plus Signs Joint Research Agreement on Functional New Materials with Chungbuk National University

From the left, Jo Young-cheol, Director of Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation at Chungbuk National University, and Yoon Sang-ho, General Manager of Moa Life Plus. Moa Life Plus

Global healthcare company Moa Life Plus announced on the 17th that it has signed an agreement with Chungbuk National University for joint research and commercialization in the field of functional new materials.

This agreement was promoted to organically combine Chungbuk National University's large-scale production platform for stem and immune cell-derived extracellular vesicles (commonly known as exosomes) without side effects with Moa Life Plus's global commercialization experience in the biohealthcare sector, accelerating the development and commercialization of innovative products based on functional new materials.

Through this, Moa Life Plus plans to secure differentiated R&D competitiveness as well as practical application of advanced new material technologies by collaborating with Chungbuk National University researchers, who possess the best technology in the field of tissue-compliant regenerative medical materials.

Extracellular vesicle technology is attracting attention as a next-generation modality both as a therapeutic agent and as a drug delivery system. According to DBMR Research, the global extracellular vesicle market is expected to grow from $11.774 billion (approximately 17 trillion KRW) in 2021 to $31.692 billion (approximately 46 trillion KRW) in 2026, at an average annual growth rate of 21.9%.

Although there are no commercialized therapies using extracellular vesicles worldwide yet, clinical trials are underway for treatments of not only cancer but also Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and inflammatory diseases. Moreover, Chungbuk National University researchers are developing ultra-fine extracellular vesicles capable of effectively delivering anticancer agents that overcome side effects.

A representative of Moa Life Plus stated, "Through cooperation with Chungbuk National University, we will further strengthen our unique new material R&D pipeline and continuously secure the scientific reliability and technological superiority necessary to lead future new drugs and the bio-beauty industry as a research-driven company."

The Chungbuk National University side also expressed, "We hope that the advanced materials developed by Chungbuk National University's excellent researchers will be commercialized through the capable Moa Life Plus, not only securing a leading position in the global market but also establishing themselves as a future growth engine for South Korea."

Meanwhile, Moa Life Plus has been conducting research and development of high value-added functional materials using high molecular weight poly-gamma-glutamic acid derived from domestic Cheonggukjang fermentation bacteria and has completed Phase 2 clinical trials of an anticancer immunotherapy targeting cervical epithelial dysplasia. It has also been recognized as an individually approved functional ingredient for health functional foods with immune-enhancing functions (NK cell activation).

Recently, high molecular weight poly-gamma-glutamic acid was exported as a raw material to global luxury cosmetic brands, proving both technological originality and commercial potential. In particular, in March, Moa Life Plus signed an exclusive supply contract worth $10 million with the Swiss global group RAHN, and the high-functionality K-beauty cosmetic materials to be developed through this agreement are expected to accelerate the expansion of product exports to the global market in the future.