[Edaily Reporter KIM JI-WAN ] “Showed a higher cell recovery rate at 1/200th the concentration of salmon-derived PDRN.”

BIO-FD&C Co.,Ltd.(251120)has entered the salmon-based skin improvement ingredients market with PDRN derived from rose cells. In cell experiments, PDRN derived from rose cells showed a higher recovery rate than salmon-derived PDRN, even at significantly lower concentrations.

BIO-FD&C Co.,Ltd. presented research on plant-derived PDRN made from cultured rose and centella asiatica cells at the International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) 2026 conference, held in Perth, Australia, from the 30th of last month (local time) through the 1st of this month. The title of the research poster was “Plant Cell-Derived PDRN Actives for Next-Generation Anti-Aging.” This research was conducted with support from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

PDRN consists of small fragments of DNA and is gaining attention as a material that aids in the recovery of damaged skin. It can supply the materials cells need to produce DNA and help activate signals related to tissue repair. Based on these mechanisms, it is used as a cosmetic ingredient to promote skin regeneration and improve wrinkles and elasticity. While conventional PDRN is primarily extracted from the testes of salmon and trout, BIO-FD&C Co.,Ltd. produces plant-based PDRN by culturing rose cells.

E-Daily conducted an exclusive interview with Mo Sang-hyun, CEO of BIO-FD&C Co.,Ltd., on the 7th. In the interview, they discussed the significance of the research findings, the growth potential of the plant-based PDRN market, and future commercialization strategies.

Rose PDRN Promotes Cell Recovery at 1/200th the Concentration of Salmon PDRN

This study examined whether raw materials produced from plant cells induce a recovery response in skin cells even at low concentrations.

The research team treated HaCaT, a human skin keratinocyte cell line, with 2 ppm of rose-derived PDRN and 400 ppm of salmon-derived PDRN, respectively. PPM is a unit of concentration. This means the concentration used in the rose-treated group was one-two-hundredth that of the salmon control group.

The test was conducted by creating a gap in the cultured cell layer and observing how quickly it closed—a method known as the “scratch assay.” As cells migrate into the gap and proliferate, the black gap in the center of the microscope image gradually narrows. The researchers also compared these results with an untreated control group and a group treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF).

After 30 hours, the gap—which had initially been wide—narrowed significantly in the rose cell PDRN-treated group. The gap recovery rate in the rose-treated group was higher than that in the group treated with the salmon-derived control material. This recovery response was observed even though the rose-derived material was used at a much lower concentration.

Mo Sang-hyun, CEO of BIO-FD&C Co.,Ltd., emphasized, “We confirmed that rose cell-derived PDRN fills the gaps between cells more quickly,” adding, “The significance of this study lies in the fact that low-concentration rose cell-derived PDRN demonstrates efficacy similar to that of high-concentration salmon-derived PDRN.”

A “Rose Cell Farm” That Doesn’t Wait for Blooms

The production method is also different.

Rose cell

PDRN is not extracted directly from harvested flowers. Instead, “callus”—a mass of cells induced from plant tissue—is cultured, and DNA is obtained from the proliferated cells. After extraction and processing, this becomes the PDRN raw material.

The poster illustrates the process of starting with a small plant tissue sample to create callus, then scaling up production from culture flasks to bioreactors. In essence, it is a “cell farm” that cultivates the necessary cells rather than waiting for the flowering season. Since cultivation conditions can be controlled, this approach reduces dependence on the season and growing environment.

BIO-FD&C Co.,Ltd. holds a joint patent with KOLMAR KOREA titled “Method for Producing PDRN from Rose Plant Cells.” Registered in July 2024, the patent covers processes such as rose cell culture, DNA extraction, and PDRN production via ultrasonic treatment.

This collaboration has led to a supply agreement for raw materials.

CEO Mo stated, “We are already supplying rose cell-derived PDRN to KOLMAR KOREA,” adding, “Although the plant-based PDRN business is still in its very early stages, sales of rose cell raw materials to KOLMAR KOREA amounted to 94.5 million won.”

In fact, cosmetics incorporating BIO-FD&C Co.,Ltd.’s rose cell-derived PDRN are currently on the market. He emphasized, “CNF Cosmetics used our rose PDRN raw material.”

KOLMAR KOREA’s PDRN Sales Grow 32-Fold… Opportunities for Plant-Based PDRN

Expectations for the growth of plant-based PDRN align with the demand observed in the cosmetics market. Last year, KOLMAR KOREA’s sales of products containing PDRN increased approximately 32-fold compared to the previous year.

Market research firm Global Info Research forecasts that the global PDRN market will expand from $74.2 million (99.3 billion won) in 2024 to $844 million (1.1297 trillion won) in 2031. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42%, the market is estimated to grow approximately 11.4-fold over the next seven years.

The growth of plant-based PDRN is also steep. Mediheal is selling the “Rose PDRN Essential Mask for Pore Refinement,” which features plant-based rose PDRN. The company has expanded its product line by introducing pore-firming pads and serums that also incorporate rose PDRN. This reflects the expansion of plant-based PDRN from sheet masks into basic skincare products.

Following the July 2024 launch of the “Retinol Green Tea PDRN Skin Booster Ampoule,” Innisfree introduced the “Green Tea PDRN EXO Gel Mask” in April of this year. This strategy aims to enhance product differentiation by combining plant-based PDRN with other ingredients such as retinol and EXO. Innisfree’s Green Tea PDRN differs from the rose cell culture method in that it is a vegan PDRN derived from lactic acid bacteria obtained from Jeju green tea, rather than being extracted directly from green tea tissue.

Last April, AMOREPACIFIC CORPORATION announced research findings on the skin-regenerating effects of “Blue PDRN,” extracted from chlorella. To ensure stable production of non-animal-based raw materials, the company developed a production process for high-concentration, low-molecular-weight PDRN and filed a patent application for the related manufacturing technology.

CEO Mo stated, “The market for plant-cell PDRN is gradually opening up,” adding, “BIO-FD&C Co.,Ltd. has laid the groundwork to respond to market expansion by staying one step ahead in supplying raw materials to cosmetics manufacturers and securing a pathway for their application in actual products.” He continued, “We will accelerate research and development to standardize rose-cell-derived PDRN and facilitate its application in products.”