[Edaily Reporter YU JIN-HEE ] Raphas ( Raphas Co., Ltd.(214260)), a company specializing in microneedle patches, has partnered with Japan’s leading global advanced materials company, Hosokawa Micron, to begin a full-scale push into the cosmetics and pharmaceutical markets based on next-generation drug delivery systems (DDS).

Raphas Co., Ltd. announced on the 1st that it has signed a strategic tripartite joint commercialization partnership agreement with Japan’s Hosokawa Micron and its local subsidiary, Raphas Japan, to integrate “advanced nanoparticle technology” and “microneedle manufacturing technology.” The two companies successfully completed prototype validation earlier this year and have now entered the full-scale commercialization phase.

The core of this collaboration is the integration of Hosokawa Micron’s proprietary “biodegradable polymer (PLGA) nanocomposite encapsulation technology” into Raphas Co., Ltd.’s microneedle patch technology. It is a next-generation drug delivery system (DDS) business model that processes drugs into nano-scale microcapsules and delivers them directly into the skin via microneedles. The two companies plan to utilize this technology to jointly develop and commercialize a pipeline of products ranging from high-performance cosmetics to hair loss and hair regrowth treatments, as well as various pharmaceuticals.

In particular, the partnership between Raphas Co., Ltd. and Hosokawa Micron—a global leader in the field of powders and nanomaterials with over 110 years of history—is drawing significant attention from the industry. Through this agreement, Raphas Co., Ltd. has secured the status of “exclusive contract manufacturing (CMO) partner” for the entire process, from product development through to the post-commercialization phase. This signifies that Raphas Co., Ltd. has secured a stable, long-term revenue stream.

Throughout this process, Raphas Co., Ltd. not only met the strict Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards required by global pharmaceutical companies but also achieved top-tier manufacturing yields in the microneedle industry, thereby validating its mass production capabilities. This achievement is viewed as objective proof of the large-scale commercial production capacity necessary for entering the global market.

A Raphas Co., Ltd. official emphasized, “Hosokawa Micron’s selection of Raphas Co., Ltd. as its exclusive manufacturing and commercialization partner is a result of the market’s official recognition of the platform value and production capabilities of our microneedle technology,” adding, “We will firmly establish high-performance, innovative patch products—combining the technologies of both companies—in the global market through Raphas Japan’s distribution network, thereby strongly driving earnings growth.”