[Edaily Reporter YU JIN-HEE ] The paradigm in the embolization (a procedure that treats lesions by blocking blood vessels) market is shifting. The medical community appears to be shifting away from the traditional approach of permanently blocking blood vessels for therapeutic purposes toward a method that selectively blocks blood flow only for the necessary duration, after which the material naturally dissolves. In line with this major shift in the academic community, the value of NEXTBIOMEDICAL CO., LTD.’s degradable embolization microsphere, “Nexsphere-F™,” is expected to grow even further.

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Limitations of Permanent Vascular Occlusion: ‘Temporary Embolization’ Is the Answer

According to industry sources on the 18th, a series of papers supporting the efficacy of temporary embolization have recently been published in world-renowned journals, further fueling this shift in the medical landscape. A prime example is the study titled “Knee Artery Embolization Using Rapidly Absorbable Gelatin-Based Microspheres for Osteoarthritis-Related Knee Pain” by Dr. Florian Nima Fleckenstein’s research team, published in the international journal *Radiology* (2026; 319(3):e253312). In addition, a commentary by renowned medical scholar Siddharth Padia, titled “Knee Artery Embolization Using Resorbable Embolic Materials: A Safer Path Toward Personalized Pain Intervention,” published in the same journal, is also drawing significant attention from the academic community.

In particular, according to a commentary by Professor Kim Man-deuk of the Department of Radiology at Severance Hospital, published in the international journal *Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology*, precisely calibrated spherical absorbable microspheres (RM) enable clinicians to customize the duration of vascular occlusion—ranging from several hours to several weeks—to suit the patient’s condition. In his commentary, Professor Kim described how preclinical studies using a porcine kidney model confirmed that blood flow was safely restored within two hours after the procedure, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.

Until now, most embolization products used in the field of interventional radiology have been non-degradable, permanent occlusion devices. In areas where blood flow to cancer cells must be completely cut off—such as in tumor treatment—permanent occlusion can be effective.

However, the situation is different for chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons), and adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Pain in these chronic inflammatory conditions is primarily caused by abnormal blood vessel growth at the lesion site and the resulting inflammatory response. While embolization to suppress the abnormal blood flow causing pain is essential in the early stages of treatment, after a certain period of time, the blood vessels must be reopened to allow the tissue to heal on its own and reestablish normal blood flow.

Conventional permanent embolization materials have a critical limitation: they remain in the body for extended periods, increasing the risk of ischemia (a lack of blood flow to tissues) in peripheral tissues and causing serious side effects—such as skin discoloration or tissue necrosis—by blocking blood flow for longer than necessary. Patients also had significant concerns about the long-term inflammatory burden.

In contrast, temporary embolization temporarily blocks the affected blood vessel to manage pain; the embolization material then naturally breaks down within the body, enabling the recovery of healthy tissue and the reopening of the blood vessel. This represents a completely new treatment approach centered on “tissue recovery,” going beyond simple vascular occlusion.

Against this backdrop, the market for safe, minimally invasive pain treatments is expanding rapidly, driven by the explosive growth of the elderly population and the sharp rise in patients with musculoskeletal disorders, including chronic arthritis. Conventional conservative treatments have shown clear limitations. Repeated use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroids is associated with gastrointestinal side effects and cardiovascular risks. Hyaluronic acid injections, commonly known as “cartilage injections,” have a short duration of effect, requiring patients to make frequent visits to the hospital. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the final surgical option, is a viable alternative; however, for elderly patients, the physical strain of the surgery itself, the risk of complications, and the lengthy recovery period pose significant barriers.

Consequently, arthritic embolization has emerged as an alternative for: △ patients who refuse surgery; △ high-risk patients with chronic underlying conditions that increase surgical risk; and △ patients who have not responded to existing injections or medication. Thanks to its advantages—including the ability to perform the procedure on an outpatient basis in a short amount of time without hospitalization, and the possibility of repeat treatments in the future—it is gaining attention as a patient-centered, next-generation medical technology.

NexSphere-F Expands Global Reach by Continuously Broadening Its Indications

NexSphere-F, developed by NEXTBIOMEDICAL CO., LTD., is a core platform that precisely addresses these unmet needs in the medical field. It has already secured approval from the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (KMFDS) as well as global certifications in major countries such as Europe and Canada, while accumulating unparalleled clinical data.

Having previously focused on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, NexSphere-F has recently expanded its indications to the entire musculoskeletal system—including hip joints and sports injuries—demonstrating its limitless scalability as a platform. A 12-month follow-up study conducted at Charité Berlin Hospital in Germany on 41 patients with hip osteoarthritis who had failed conservative treatment showed that the success rate of the embolization procedure reached an impressive 97.5%. There were no cases of serious side effects or avascular necrosis of the femoral head following the procedure. Patients’ pain scores (NRS) dropped sharply from an average of 7 to 4, and the rate of conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) at the 12-month mark was only 4.9%, clearly demonstrating the procedure’s effectiveness in delaying the need for surgery.

The pace of global market expansion is also accelerating rapidly. The company has launched a major push into Europe by signing an exclusive distribution agreement with the European subsidiary of “Terumo,” a global medical device giant, covering Europe and select countries in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. Analysts predict that market penetration in these regions will rise sharply through Terumo’s vast distribution network.

Entry into the U.S., the world’s largest medical market, is also on the horizon. Clinical trials for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval are currently in full swing at more than 15 institutions. In particular, the company became the first in the domestic medical device industry to secure “Category B” approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which allows clinical trial costs to be covered by insurance, thereby accelerating the race toward commercialization in the U.S. The company has also secured a foothold in the Japanese market by signing an exclusive distribution agreement with “Asahi Intech LTD,” a major local medical device company. This is a highly lucrative contract that maximizes the company’s profitability, as it involves the direct supply of finished products rather than technology transfer, which typically yields lower profit margins.

NEXTBIOMEDICAL CO., LTD. already possesses a powerful cash cow in “Nexpowder™,” an endoscopic hemostatic agent currently exported worldwide through Medtronic, the world’s leading medical device company. Nexpowder™ is also continuing to evolve, with the company having begun development of “Nexpowder-T,” a new convergent product that combines physical adhesion with chemical blood coagulation.

With NexSphere F—which is leading a paradigm shift in the medical field—now fully joining the fray, the market anticipates that NEXTBIOMEDICAL CO., LTD.’s corporate value will take a significant leap forward. In fact, according to the investment industry, NEXTBIOMEDICAL CO., LTD. is projected to surpass 25 billion won in revenue for the first time in its history this year, and it is highly likely to achieve the long-awaited shift to profitability next year. Riding this momentum, the company has presented a blueprint to usher in an era of 100 billion won in revenue within five years.

An industry insider stated, “NEXTBIOMEDICAL CO., LTD. is spearheading efforts to expand indications and advance its polymer platform technology with NexSphere-F at the forefront,” adding, “As temporary embolization—which eliminates concerns about residual material in internal organs—becomes the mainstream standard, the company’s leadership and competitiveness in the global market will grow beyond imagination.”