[Edaily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] Rapas ( Raphas Co., Ltd.(214260)), a company specializing in microneedles, announced on the 3rd that it has signed a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) agreement with Japanese electronics components manufacturer Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. to commercialize biosensor products utilizing microneedles.

This agreement was signed between Raphas Co., Ltd., the Japanese subsidiary of Raphas, and Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and represents a collaboration to advance the commercialization of a microneedle-based biosensor patch that the two companies have been jointly developing.

The two companies plan to combine Raphas Co., Ltd.’s soluble microneedle technology with Murata Manufacturing’s biosensor technology to develop a wearable healthcare platform that collects biological data through the skin and analyzes it in real time.

According to the company, the product is designed to be applied to the skin like a band-aid, measure physiological data via microneedles, and sync this data with digital devices such as smartphones for real-time monitoring.

In this project, Raphas Co., Ltd. will be responsible for developing the microneedle formulation, conducting polymer analysis, and developing the manufacturing process based on a soluble microarray patch (MAP) that utilizes bio-metabolic active enzymes. Murata Manufacturing will provide bio-battery and enzyme-immobilized electrode technologies, while Raphas Japan will handle commercialization and expansion into the Japanese market.

The biosensor patch being jointly developed by the two companies is a next-generation wearable healthcare platform that non-invasively collects physiological data through the skin, converts it into electrical signals, and analyzes it. The plan is to expand this into a digital healthcare platform that continuously monitors users’ physiological conditions and integrates with smart devices.

Jeong Do-hyun, CEO of Raphas Co., Ltd., stated, “Our collaboration with Murata Manufacturing is a testament to the recognition of Raphas Co., Ltd.’s R&D and mass production capabilities in microneedles,” adding, “By combining the technologies of both companies, we will accelerate the commercialization of biosensors and healthcare platforms.”

Kwon Yu-ri, CEO of Raphas Co., Ltd., said, “We plan to use this collaboration as an opportunity to expand our business into the fields of digital healthcare, medical aesthetics, telemedicine, digital therapeutics (DTx), and smart wearables.”

A representative from Murata Manufacturing said, “We will pursue the development of new biosensor technologies by combining Murata Manufacturing’s enzyme immobilization and bio-battery technologies with Raphas Co., Ltd.’s microneedle platform,” adding, “We will expand the scope of applications to smart sensors and wellness devices that utilize various biological signals in the future.”