[Edaily Reporter KIM SAE-MI ] L&C BIO(290650)announced on the 21st that Vice Chairwoman Lee Ju-hee was elected as the inaugural chairperson of the “Korea Human Tissue ECM Bioindustry Association.”
The Korean Human Tissue ECM Bioindustry Association officially launched that morning by holding its inaugural general meeting and policy vision proclamation ceremony at the Maekyung Media Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by experts from related industries, the medical community, and academia, including representatives from L&C BIO.
The event included a report on the association’s establishment process, a presentation on its founding principles and operational plans, the adoption of the articles of incorporation, the appointment of the inaugural president, and the announcement of the policy vision. Vice Chairwoman Lee, elected as the inaugural president, plans to lead the association’s activities to foster the development of the human tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) industry and enhance public trust by gathering input from industry, medical, and academic sectors.
ECM (Extracellular Matrix) is composed of collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), among other components. It surrounds and supports cells, playing a role in maintaining the structure and function of tissues. It is utilized in research on the reconstruction and regeneration of various human tissues—including skin, bone, cartilage, nerves, and tendons—as well as in clinical practice.
In particular, interest is growing in the aesthetic and regenerative medicine markets with the emergence of skin booster products utilizing human-derived ECM. L&C BIO has also introduced “Re2O,” a product based on acellular allogeneic dermis derived from donated human tissue, to the skin booster market. As products that involve injecting human-derived materials into the skin become more widespread, there is a growing need to establish standards regarding safety, ethics, and traceability throughout the entire process—from securing raw materials to processing, manufacturing, distribution, and use.
In response, the association has presented five major policy visions: △ Strengthening the human tissue safety management system that prioritizes public safety; △ Creating a rational regulatory environment that balances safety and industrial development based on the Human Tissue Act; △ Enhancing industry credibility through scientific evidence and global standardization; △ Fostering a safe and responsible industrial ecosystem that respects the value of donation; and △ Strengthening the global competitiveness of the domestic human tissue ECM industry.
Going forward, the association plans to host academic seminars, expert forums, policy discussions, and educational and public outreach activities, while collaborating with relevant agencies to identify policy and institutional improvement initiatives based on feedback from the industry.
I Ju-hee, the association’s inaugural chairperson, stated, “Human tissue ECM is rapidly evolving beyond the medical field into regenerative medicine and the biotechnology industry.” She added, “Based on the research and industry experience accumulated to date, we will gather the voices of experts and propose reasonable policy directions to ensure sound development grounded in scientific and medical evidence.”
She added, “With the fundamental principles of respecting public safety and the wishes of donors, we will serve as a bridge enabling communication and cooperation among academia, the medical community, and the industry.”
L&C BIO plans to support the association’s activities by leveraging its accumulated experience, ranging from the procurement and processing of human tissues to research and development (R&D) and commercialization. The company is developing human tissue grafts and medical devices using donated human tissues.
Meanwhile, 20 companies attended the founding ceremony, including L&C BIO, GREEN CROSS WellBeing Corporation(234690), Dope, LAMEDITECH Co., Ltd.(462510), Reseem Bio, Medpark, Mint Medical, BIOBIJOU Co., Ltd., Baim, Cellac Bio, LCI Bio, HLB Life Science(067630), MS Bio, Olso Tech, JETEMA Co.,Ltd.(216080), Jin Bio, Puzzle B, HANS BIOMED CORPORATION(042520), Humedix Co., Ltd.(200670), and Hugel, Inc.(145020).
