Last April, under the leadership of the National Medical Products Administration, a special conference on the registration and review guidelines for recombinant collagen wound dressings was held in Beijing. Eight leading domestic companies in the field of recombinant collagen protein gathered together, with two of them based in Xi’an, Shaanxi. One of the companies is Giant Biogene, and the other is Shaanxi HuiKang Bio-tech Co., Ltd. (referred to as “HuiKang Bio-tech”).
If Giant Biogene ushered in the era of industrialization of recombinant collagen protein in China, then HuiKang Bio-tech, with its forward-looking vision and strong innovation capability, pioneered the I&III hybrid recombinant collagen protein in 2010, leading the industry in the era of recombinant dual collagen protein in China for over 10 years.
CHAILEEDO has noticed that this Chinese biotechnology company, with 23 years of experience and profound accumulation in the field of recombinant collagen protein and peptides, is now making a strong entry into the beauty and skincare industry, injecting new vitality into the fiercely competitive beauty market.
Leading for 11 Years: The Innovative Pioneer of Recombinant Collagen Protein
According to Frost Sullivan data, the market size of the Chinese recombinant collagen protein products is expected to increase from 18.5 billion yuan in 2022 to 108.3 billion yuan in 2027, with a compound annual growth rate of 42.4%.
Especially in the beauty industry in recent years, there has been a surge in the application of recombinant collagen protein ingredients. Prominent domestic and international beauty companies such as L’Oreal and P&G have incorporated recombinant collagen protein into their products.
In fact, as one of the few areas in which Chinese companies have taken the lead in the entire chain of production, research, and development, the current surge in the application of recombinant collagen protein cannot be separated from the enterprising spirit and bold innovation of the recombinant collagen protein companies, with HuiKang Bio-tech being one of the leaders.
For example, in recent years, as an important innovative achievement in the field of recombinant collagen protein, several beauty and skincare brands have promoted their products by adding recombinant dual collagen protein. HuiKang Bio-tech, on the other hand, completed the technical breakthroughs as early as 2010, leading the industry by more than 10 years and earning the title of “pioneer” in the recombinant dual collagen protein market.
At that time, HuiKang Bio-tech creatively integrated the functional regions of type I and type III collagen (with a ratio of 0.96:1) through genetic engineering and synthetic biology techniques, overcoming the challenge of simultaneously supplementing type I and type III collagen. They successfully developed the first I&III hybrid recombinant dual collagen protein and obtained the national invention patent ZL 201010527766.7, titled “Gene Recombinant Human Collagen Protein Fusion Peptide Segments and Their Preparation Methods and Applications.”
And this was just the starting point of HuiKang Bio-tech’s continuous breakthroughs in the field of recombinant collagen protein. Over the past decade, HuiKang Bio-tech has been a research and development “geek” in the field of recombinant collagen protein, introducing several highly technological innovative achievements.
Just two years after the creation of the “Genetic Code I&III Dual Collagen,” HuiKang Bio-tech developed the national patent I-type recombinant human collagen protein and epidermal growth factor (EGF) dual expression system, achieving the production of two proteins in a single fermentation process and greatly improving production efficiency.
In 2016, HuiKang Bio-tech launched the domestically pioneering “Intelligent Collagen SAC, ‘Super-Aqua-Collagen’,” and obtained a national invention patent. This collagen product possesses advantages such as high purity, high activity, high stability, low molecular weight, and easy absorption and utilization by the skin.
Regarding this, HuiKang Bio-tech expressed to CHAILEEDO, “In the future, HuiKang will design various excellent characteristic ‘singular point’ collagens based on the synthetic biology intelligent manufacturing platform (‘IT+BT’).”
It can be seen that in the field of recombinant collagen protein, HuiKang Bio-tech freely “explores” by persistently focusing and creatively thinking, continuously breaking through technological challenges. Among them, weighty papers and patent certificates serve as vivid testimonials to HuiKang Bio-tech’s journey in the development of recombinant collagen protein.
To date, HuiKang Bio-tech’s research and development achievements in recombinant collagen protein have been published in numerous important domestic and international journals.
At the same time, from 2010 to the present, HuiKang Bio-tech has obtained multiple national invention patents in the field of recombinant collagen protein, including “A Method for Purifying Recombinant Human Collagen Protein” and “Recombinant Human Collagen Protein Solution, Dressing, and Their Preparation Methods.”
Without accumulating small steps, one cannot cover a thousand miles. Over the course of more than a decade, HuiKang Bio-tech has become one of the domestic companies with the most profound accumulation in the research of recombinant collagen protein. The company continues to invest in the industrialization and technological breakthroughs of recombinant collagen protein, providing a continuous source of technical motivation for the industry.
Creating the “China Peptide Library” and Climbing the Peaks of Peptide Innovation
Scientists have predicted that the 21st century would be the century of peptides, highlighting the vast application prospects of peptides. For HuiKang Bio-tech, peptides and recombinant collagen protein serve as the “two wings” of their research and development, propelling them to continuously climb the peaks of scientific exploration.
CHAILEEDO has noticed that one of HuiKang Bio-tech’s representative achievements in the field of peptides is the construction of the “China Peptide Library.”
According to related research, the mutual recognition, interaction, and balance between protein molecules in living organisms maintain bodily health. However, once this balance is disrupted, diseases can occur. To restore balance, it is crucial to identify small molecular peptides composed of key residues, known as epitope peptides.
In November 2018, with unwavering confidence, HuiKang Bio-tech officially launched the “China Peptide Library” project. The aim was to establish a parallel peptide library containing 175,000 precise sequences. By utilizing the vast amount of unknown active peptide information within the library, HuiKang Bio-tech could screen various functional active peptides and provide innovative active peptide products for industries such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
At that time, the bold initiative of HuiKang Bio-tech attracted the attention of the journal “Nature Reviews Drug Discovery,” a subsidiary of the British publishing group “Nature.” They provided detailed coverage of the “China Peptide Library” project.
It is reported that when combined with any detection method, the China Peptide Library can constitute a large-scale, low-cost, and rapid lead epitope peptide screening system. It also provides raw material supply, formulation development, and technical support, significantly reducing the product development cycle, pathway, and cost, thus promoting original innovation within the industry.
After more than 1,800 days and nights and an investment of up to 130 million yuan, the “China Peptide Library,” as a provincial-level project supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, has opened its screening platform to the public. It is set to become a shared treasure trove of resources for all mankind.
In addition to the construction of the China Peptide Library, HuiKang Bio-tech has also accumulated extensive research in peptide raw materials. For example, the research achievement of “Liquid-Phase Synthesis of Hexapeptides,” a collaborative effort by HuiKang Bio-tech researchers, was published as a cover article in one of the world’s top three authoritative chemical engineering journals, “I&EC Research,” attracting international academic attention.
In the field of intellectual property, HuiKang Bio-tech has always upheld a rigorous attitude and innovative spirit. As of April 2024, HuiKang Bio-tech has obtained 162 patents and registered 668 trademarks. Leveraging unique patents, trademarks, and core technological advantages, HuiKang Bio-tech relies on the recombinant collagen protein and active peptide technology platforms to provide strong support for brand development.
Furthermore, HuiKang Bio-tech has carefully selected a peptide raw material matrix consisting of advantageous ingredients such as Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Tripeptide-1 Copper, Nonapeptide-1, and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8. These are used for promoting and deeply applying peptides in the cosmetics market.
With years of exploration in the field of peptides, HuiKang Bio-tech has grown into a “Peptide Leader” in China, providing a powerful raw material “engine” for its long-term development in the beauty and skincare industry.
HuiKang Bio-tech’s Strong Entry into the Beauty and Skincare Sector, Leading the Standardization of Recombinant Collagen Protein
Today, HuiKang Bio-tech has established a leading advantage in the fields of peptides and recombinant collagen protein, thanks to its continuous investment in research and development. Currently, HuiKang Bio-tech has established three major bases, five centers, and fourteen experimental platforms, with the research team accounting for as high as 37% of the company’s personnel.
At the same time, in the face of the lack of standardized market for raw materials such as recombinant collagen protein, HuiKang Bio-tech actively participates in the formulation of industry standards, leading the healthy development of the industry. Currently, HuiKang Bio-tech has participated in the drafting of multiple industry standards, such as “Transdermal Absorption Determination Method of Recombinant Collagen Protein,” “Quality Requirements and Efficacy Evaluation Method of Recombinant Collagen Protein Raw Materials,” and “Synthesis of Peptides for Cosmetic Use.”
In recent years, HuiKang Bio-tech has also made frequent efforts in cosmetics production and brand building, achieving good market response and becoming an undeniable dark horse in the functional skincare market.
For example, HuiKang Bio-tech’s peptide technology skincare brand YE NEW SKIN received a warm response upon its launch. Currently, YE NEW SKIN has introduced popular products such as Hexapeptide Wrinkle-Plumping Eye Serum, Dual-Fermented Yeast Blue Copper Peptide Facial Oil, Collagen Ampoule Essence Mask, and Hexapeptide Firming Mask, all of which have been highly praised for their effectiveness in the industry.
Among them, the YE NEW SKIN Hexapeptide Firming Mask adopts the new upgraded “anti-aging matrix,” meticulously researched by HuiKang Bio-tech. It combines the effects of an eye mask and a face mask, achieving external anti-aging and internal replenishment. It can be described as a highly effective “anti-aging and wrinkle-smoothing mask.” The Hexapeptide Wrinkle-Plumping Eye Serum, known as the third-generation “little blue bottle,” can quickly fade eye wrinkles and plump the eye area. With the powerful combination of dual peptides, it provides precise 3D wrinkle smoothing.
Today, the track of recombinant collagen protein is still in a rapid development phase. With the introduction of more high-quality products and enhanced brand promotion, it is bound to experience greater breakthroughs in the future. The application of peptide raw materials in the cosmetics market is also entering a favorable stage. This means that HuiKang Bio-tech, which has already laid out its strategies in both the raw material and brand aspects, holds multiple “trump cards” and will become an important force in the beauty and skincare market that cannot be ignored.
