In the vast land of the northwest, a biotechnology giant is rapidly rising and gradually revealing ambitious aspirations in the beauty and cosmetics arena.
On July 23, the unveiling ceremony of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University · HK Biotech Innovation Research Joint Laboratory was held in Xi’an. It is reported that through the establishment of the laboratory, the two parties will achieve deep integration of resources, technology, and talent, jointly promoting the innovative development of biotechnology.
As a pioneer in China’s recombinant collagen and peptide field, HK Biotech has been deeply cultivating this field for many years. With its strong technological and R&D capabilities, it is venturing into the beauty and cosmetics arena, launching the biotech skincare brand Ye New Skin, positioning itself as an expert in recombinant collagen and peptides.
This collaboration signifies an expansion of HK Biotech’s research and development landscape, providing strong R&D support for its beauty and cosmetics business.
The two joining forces, jointly driving peptide innovation
Looking back at the development history of recombinant collagen in China, HK Biotech is a significant “pioneer.” In 2010, HK Biotech pioneered the I & III chimeric recombinant double collagen, leading the industry for over 10 years by being the first to open the door to the era of recombinant double collagen in China.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, on the other hand, is a world-class innovative university. In the latest QS World University Rankings, Hong Kong Polytechnic University ranks 67th, and the PolyU Institute for Advanced Innovation (PAIR) serves as PolyU’s central research platform, dedicated to providing world-leading interdisciplinary solutions to address major societal challenges.
So, what kind of sparks will fly from this strong collaboration between the two this time?
During the unveiling ceremony, Sun Jian, founder and chairman of Huikang Group, stated, “For the past 23 years, we have been focusing on research in the field of active protein and peptide bio-regenerative engineering and applications. The company is committed to becoming an internationally leading bioproduct manufacturer, protein and peptide raw material supplier, and innovative drug screening technology service provider.”
“Through this collaboration with Hong Kong Polytechnic University, we can fully leverage the advantages of both sides. By establishing the joint laboratory, we will conduct research on peptide screening and application solutions, thereby promoting the discovery of peptide drugs and the improvement of high-throughput screening technology,” Sun Jian further expressed.
Professor Zhang Weixiong from Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Deputy Dean of the Institute for Advanced Innovation described the collaboration between the two as a “strong alliance.” He said, “HK Biotech has extremely valuable practical experience in peptide technology, new drug development, and market promotion. Through the integration of experience and resources, both parties will surely be able to create brilliance in the field of new drug targets for ophthalmic diseases and innovative drug development.”
It is reported that the Biotech Innovation Research Joint Laboratory will focus on research on peptide screening and application solutions, focusing on the project transformation of human lysozyme eye drops, exosome raw material research, and trauma repair in cutting-edge areas, continuously expanding the application boundaries and potential of biotechnology.
Regarding this collaboration, Zhang Weixiong expressed his admiration for HK Biotech on behalf of CHAILEEDO, “We have inspected many places, including Xi’an, and found that HK Biotech has excellent research and production space, an outstanding team of scientists, and an industrialized mass production platform.”
CHAILEEDO noted that during the ceremony, HK Biotech also announced the appointment of Professor Ho Ming Kwong, Director of the Visual Science Research Center at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, as the Chief Scientist of Huikang International, and the appointment of Professor Mei Qibing from the Luzhou New Drug Evaluation Center as the Chief Scientist of HK Biotech. The addition of these two top scholars signifies a new level of research and development strength for HK Biotech.
HK International Peptide Library Goes Global, Recombinant Collagen Breaks Through Again
It is worth mentioning that the “HK International Peptide Library” project initiated by HK Biotech in 2018 will also serve as an important research platform for the collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Upon completion, the “HK International Peptide Library” project will be a parallel peptide library containing cyclic dipeptide libraries, dipeptide libraries, tripeptide libraries, tetrapeptide libraries, totaling 175,000 accurately sequenced peptides. Through the wealth of unknown active polypeptide information it contains, various functional active polypeptides can be screened, providing fertile ground for the birth of innovative drugs and new raw materials for cosmetics. This project will further expand industry boundaries and become a representative achievement of HK Biotech in the field of peptides.
Li Yuan, General Manager of the R&D Center of HK Biotech, expressed to CHAILEEDO, “This collaboration will help propel our HK International Peptide Library onto the world stage through the window of Hong Kong.”
Following the unveiling ceremony, HK Biotech also invited several top scholars to participate in an academic seminar to discuss innovations in peptides and recombinant collagen. Professor Qin Chuanguang from Northwestern Polytechnical University delivered a keynote speech on innovative methods and applications of resin-free homogeneous peptide synthesis, discussing applications in the synthesis of tripeptides like GHK, proposing a more environmentally friendly peptide synthesis method.
Professor Chen Zhuoyue from Northwestern University shared a presentation on “A Study on the Application of a Novel Recombinant Collagen and RADA-16 Fusion Protein in Skin Injury Repair,” where he discovered that the RADA-16 fused protein obtained through microbial fermentation with collagen has lower cost, higher yield, and easier purification compared to chemically synthesized RADA-16 peptides. Chen Zhuoyue revealed that this project was jointly developed with HK Biotech, and the research results are soon to be jointly patented with HK Biotech. This new protein exhibits a high elastic modulus, strong water absorption and retention abilities, and stable swelling properties.
In fact, recombinant double collagen is just the beginning of HK Biotech’s continuous breakthroughs in the field of recombinant collagen. Over the past decade, HK Biotech has introduced several highly technological innovations in recombinant collagen, including the national patent I-type recombinant human collagen and epidermal growth factor EGF dual expression system, achieving the production of two proteins in one fermentation process, significantly improving production efficiency. In 2016, they also introduced China’s first all-human “Smart Collagen SAC, ‘Super-Aqua-Collagen'” and more.
Additionally, the research and development achievements of HK Biotech’s recombinant collagen have been published in several important Chinese and international journals and have received multiple national invention patents, such as “A Method for Purifying Recombinant Human Collagen” and “Recombinant Human Collagen Solution, Dressings, and Methods for their Preparation.” Today, HK Biotech has become one of the companies in China with the deepest accumulation of research on recombinant collagen.
It is worth noting that HK Biotech is also the first Chinese company to break through the physical cross-linking technology of recombinant collagen. Currently, recombinant collagen is mainly hydrophilic collagen, and it is generally believed that it is difficult to give recombinant collagen appropriate mechanical properties and microstructure without the use of chemical cross-linking agents. However, the physical cross-linking of HK recombinant collagen can achieve the same effect as chemical cross-linking without the concerns of chemical residues.
From the HK International Peptide Library to recombinant collagen, HK Biotech has always maintained a strong technological insight in research and development innovation, daring to invest and innovate boldly. This approach allows them to stay one step ahead, consistently leading in the fields of peptides and recombinant collagen.
Beauty Brand Ready to Make a Breakthrough
According to CHAILEEDO, the market size of functional skincare products containing recombinant collagen surpassed that of medical dressings last year, reaching 14.25 billion yuan, showcasing tremendous market potential. Meanwhile, due to advantages such as high activity and clear target effects, beauty peptides have also experienced rapid development. Data indicates that the total market size of peptide-containing cosmetics in China last year may have reached 12.76 billion yuan. As a company with deep reserves in the fields of peptides and recombinant collagen, HK Biotech undoubtedly possesses a unique market advantage.
Based on its strong research and development capabilities, HK Biotech established the biotechnology skincare brand Ye New Skin in 2018, positioning the brand as an “expert in recombinant collagen & peptides.” The products carry 23 years of biotechnological achievements from HK Biotech, with recombinant collagen and peptides as core ingredients and biotechnology as the central technology, transforming years of technological accumulation and human-origin superior materials into safe and effective products.
On the raw material front, the research and development accumulation of recombinant collagen and the HK International Peptide Library give Ye New Skin a substantial raw material barrier. Additionally, with 23 years of deep research in synthetic biology, HK Biotech covers three core industries: synthetic biology, green chemistry, and microbial skincare. They possess core technologies such as “liposome encapsulation,” “supramolecular technology,” and “targeted delivery technology,” building a strong technological barrier for Ye New Skin.
The strong research and development team at HK Biotech continuously provides innovative drive for Ye New Skin. Currently, HK Biotech holds 164 invention patents, with research papers on Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 featured on the cover of the scientific journal “IE&Research.” They also have three major research bases, five R&D centers, and 21 large experimental platforms, collectively forming a powerful research and development matrix, with researchers accounting for a high proportion of 37%.
Furthermore, the HK Biotech Science Park, with an investment of 520 million yuan and a total area of 65,000 square meters, houses independently functional cosmetic production workshops, freeze-dried powder production workshops, and well-equipped ingredient, emulsification, settling, bottle washing, filling, packaging workshops, undoubtedly providing stable production capacity support for Ye New Skin.
CHAILEEDO has noted that Ye New Skin has launched several popular products, including the Hexapeptide Wrinkle-Reducing Eye Essence, Dual Fermented Yeast Blue Copper Peptide Essence Oil, Collagen Ampoule Essence Mask, and Hexapeptide Firming Mask. Among them, the Hexapeptide Wrinkle-Reducing Eye Essence, known as the third-generation “Little Blue Bottle,” can smooth eye wrinkles in four weeks, plump the eye area, enhance the firmness of the corners of the eyes, and has been well received in the market.
Today, the cosmetics industry is entering a new era where technology is a core competitive advantage. HK Biotech’s leadership and innovation in the fields of peptides and recombinant collagen undoubtedly solidify its technological foundation in the beauty industry and provide strong research and development impetus. Through collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HK Biotech can not only accelerate its technological progress but also enhance the overall quality and innovation capabilities of its research and development team, further demonstrating HK Biotech’s global vision and open-minded research spirit.
