ECM production by culturing human normal cells… Differences from products derived from salmon and human tissue Based on nearly 20 years of cell research... Expected competition with L&C Bio
HLB Cell is seeking to enter the skin booster market using extracellular matrix (ECM) material made by culturing normal human cells. Unlike existing products that use salmon-derived DNA components or donated human skin tissue, this method uses materials obtained through a cell culture process. We are expanding the technology we have accumulated in the fields of bioartificial space and tissue regeneration to skin care products.
HLB Cell, a subsidiary of HLB Innovation, has completed the commercialization of a skin booster using its own ECM platform 'Hutrigel' and is reviewing commercialization plans. Jin Yang-gon, Chairman of HLB Group, announced at a corporate information session held on the 15th that they have been preparing related projects.
#### Cell culture method different from salmon DNA and human tissue
Skin Booster is a cosmetic medical product that injects active ingredients into the skin to improve hydration and elasticity. Pharma Research's 'Rejuran' uses polynucleotide (PN) extracted from salmonid fish. PN, a DNA-derived polymer, is used as a material to help restore skin tissue.
L&C Bio's 'Rituo', which has been attracting attention recently, is different from its raw materials. Cells are removed from donated human skin tissue, and extracellular matrix components such as collagen are left behind for use.
ECM is a complex of proteins and polysaccharides that surrounds and supports cells. If collagen maintains the shape of the tissue, basement membrane proteins such as laminin are involved in cell adhesion and the formation of a growth environment. The material itself is different from PN, which is a DNA-derived component.
HLB Cell's Hutrigel has a different method of obtaining raw materials even if it is the same ECM material. Instead of processing donated skin tissue, normal human cells are cultured and the ECM produced by the cells is recovered. In particular, it is characterized by being rich in basement membrane components that help cells settle into tissues.
The cell culture method does not depend on the amount of donor tissue secured, but has the potential to expand raw material production depending on the culture scale, and has the potential to increase uniformity of quality by managing culture conditions. The actual skin improvement effect and safety must be confirmed through product verification.
When HLB Cell launches Skin Booster, it will compete with L&C Bio, which has 'Rituo', an ECM product derived from human tissue. Although the two products are in the same ECM family, the method of securing raw materials is different, which may lead to differences in production scale, supply stability, and price competitiveness. HLB Cell is expected to highlight raw material production and quality control technology through cell culture as differentiating factors.
#### Nearly 20 years of cell research... From semiconductors and CAR-T to aesthetic medicine
HLB Cell's Hutrigel is a technology developed in bio-artificial spaces and cell and tissue regeneration research. Its predecessor, Life River, was established in 2009 by acquiring Life Code's research personnel and related businesses, and has accumulated cell culture technology with a focus on bio-artificial space development. Afterwards, the scope of research was expanded to technology for producing ECM from human normal cells, and development of the Hutrigel platform and research products was completed in 2023, and 'Hutrigel-RU' was launched the following year.
Hutrigel-RU is a culture material that helps the three-dimensional growth of stem cells and organoids. Organoids are organ analogs that reproduce some of the structure and function of actual organs by cultivating stem cells, etc., and the ECM that supports cells to grow into tissue form is important. Matrigel, an ECM derived from mouse tumors, has been widely used in existing research, but HLB cells were developed as an alternative material using ECM derived from human normal cells, and related research results were announced at the Korean Society of Biomaterials in 2023.
[Source: HLB Cell, research (RU), medical (MU), and aesthetic medicine (AU) development areas of the extracellular matrix platform 'Hutrigel']
We have been preparing to enter the aesthetic medicine field since the same year. In 2023, HLB Cell began joint development of a tissue regeneration functional filler that combines hyaluronic acid processing technology with HLB Pharmaceuticals and Hutrigel and applied for a related patent. The business report published in 2025 included the completion of research batch formulation of cosmetic 'Hutrigel-AU' and preliminary efficacy evaluation in vitro and in vivo. This product has been developed with the goal of improving facial wrinkles, and is indicated on the company's website as being in the preparation stage for non-clinical trials. It has not been disclosed whether the recently commercialized Skin Booster and the AU pipeline are the same product.
The market outlook is also a factor that raises expectations for commercialization. Shinhan Investment & Securities predicted that the domestic human tissue-derived ECM skin booster market will expand approximately 17.5 times from KRW 9.9 billion in 2025 to KRW 172.9 billion in 2027. This figure was calculated focusing on existing human tissue-derived products, and the market for cell culture-derived products was not separately estimated.
It is also meaningful in terms of expanding HLB Innovation's business. HLB Innovation, which has mainly produced semiconductor lead frames, is developing CAR-T treatments through its U.S. subsidiary Verismo Therapeutics. Last August, it decided to acquire a 99.3% stake in HLB Cell for approximately 36.2 billion won, securing a foundation for domestic cell and regenerative medicine research. The plan is to expand the business to Korea and Asia by linking Verismo's global new drug development capabilities with HLB Cell's cell culture technology.
If Hutrigel Skin Booster is commercialized, the business area will expand from semiconductors and cell therapy to cosmetic medical materials. Although procedures such as product safety verification, licensing, and establishment of a mass production system remain, it is meaningful in that it has secured a new business opportunity that can connect technology developed with research materials to actual sales.
