Securing Ultra-Low Molecular Technology Compared to Salmon-Derived PDRN
Targeting the Vegan Cosmetics Market
Government R&D Support Seen as Best Practice for Expanding Private-Sector Sales
Results of a human clinical trial of Blue PDRN for wrinkle improvement. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
As products containing the functional ingredient "Blue PDRN (PolyDeoxyRiboNucleotide)" derived from marine biological resources are being released one after another, the industrialization achievements of marine bio-based materials are becoming visible. This case is being evaluated as an example in which government support for technology development has led to commercialization by private companies and expanded sales.
On the 26th, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that, through the "Marine Bio Raw Material and Formulation Technology Development (2023-2024)" project jointly conducted with the Amorepacific R&I Center and MoaChem, it had developed a process to extract high-content, low-molecular-weight PDRN from Chlorella, a type of marine microalgae. Based on this, the "Blue PDRN" cosmetics launched in July last year have recorded strong sales, drawing market attention to functional ingredients derived from the ocean.
PDRN is a fragment of DNA and is used as a functional ingredient for cell regeneration, wound healing, wrinkle improvement, skin brightening, hair growth, and hair-loss prevention. Until now, it has mainly been extracted from animal-derived raw materials such as salmon testes.
The newly developed "Blue PDRN" has an ultra-low molecular size about 20 times smaller than that of conventional animal-derived PDRN, and about 1,400 times smaller than skin pores, which allows it to be delivered deep into the skin. This is said to enhance skin-regeneration efficacy. Amorepacific has completed patent registration for the manufacturing technology and, following last year, has also launched new follow-up brand products this year.
In particular, Blue PDRN is meaningful in that it reflects ethical consumption and eco-friendly values by applying a production technology based on non-animal alternative raw materials. With the global vegan cosmetics market expanding, the industrial application potential of functional ingredients derived from marine microalgae is also expected to grow further. According to the market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the vegan cosmetics market is projected to reach 46 trillion won by 2032.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has evaluated this case as a best practice in which marine and fisheries biological resources have not remained at the research and development stage but have been linked to enhanced product competitiveness and increased sales for private companies. The ministry plans to continue expanding the discovery of functional ingredients based on marine biological resources and to support their spread into various bio-industrial fields, including cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals.
Seo Jeongho, policy chief at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "The successive launches of Blue PDRN products are a representative case in which support for technology development using marine biological resources has led to industrial outcomes that the public can tangibly experience," adding, "We will enhance the international competitiveness of K-beauty and the broader bio industry by advancing technologies for marine-derived blue bio materials and strengthening the industrial base."
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