[Edaily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] Micro-needle specialist Raphas Co., Ltd.(214260)announced on the 1st that it will collaborate with Hosokawa Micron Corporation, a Japanese materials and powder technology company, to jointly develop and commercialize products based on next-generation drug delivery systems (DDS).

The two companies plan to jointly develop high-performance cosmetics, hair loss and hair growth products, and pharmaceuticals by combining Hosokawa Micron’s biodegradable polymer (PLGA)-based nano-encapsulation technology with Raphas Co., Ltd.’s soluble microneedle platform.

PLGA is a biodegradable polymer material widely used to encapsulate drugs in microcapsule form, thereby enhancing stability and controlling the rate of drug release. The core of this collaboration is to establish a drug delivery platform that encapsulates drugs at the nanoscale and delivers them to the skin via microneedles.

Raphas Co., Ltd. has signed a three-party strategic commercialization agreement with Hosokawa Micron and its Japanese subsidiary, Lapas Japan. The two companies completed prototype validation earlier this year and are currently conducting follow-up development for commercialization.

Hosokawa Micron is a company with over 100 years of experience in developing powder and nanomaterial technologies. Under this agreement, Raphas Co., Ltd. will serve as the exclusive contract manufacturing organization (CMO) partner, responsible for production following the development and commercialization of this product line.

Raphas Co., Ltd. explained that during this development process, it has established a production system that complies with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards required by global pharmaceutical companies and has secured the manufacturing yield necessary for mass production. Based on this, the company plans to expand commercial production in the future.

A Raphas Co., Ltd. official stated, “Hosokawa Micron’s selection of Raphas Co., Ltd. as its exclusive manufacturing and commercialization partner reflects its high evaluation of our microneedle platform and production capabilities,” adding, “We plan to supply products combining the technologies of both companies to the global market through Raphas Japan’s distribution network and drive their commercialization.”