V&co Builds Integrated Skin Bio Research System

Photo source = V&co

As the global skin healthcare market is rapidly restructuring around precision diagnostics and high-functionality bio-materials, V&co announced that it has established an integrated skin bio research system that goes beyond the development of simple skin diagnostic devices to analyze the condition beneath the skin using AI, examine skin microorganisms at the molecular level, and connect these findings to material research.

The company has developed a bio-based skin diagnostic technology that can quantitatively analyze skin conditions by precisely analyzing AI-based skin microbiome data and genomic analysis data on millions of microbial species obtained through joint research with SK Telecom.

The four types of biomarkers targeting skin resident bacteria have completed patent registration and applications, demonstrating the technological sophistication, and the company is reviewing expansion into professional channels such as hospitals and clinics. A key advantage of this technology is that it enables low-cost, high-efficiency data expansion by utilizing an AI-based comparative genomics analysis system (in-silico).

In the field of functional ingredient raw materials, the company has built a library of approximately 3,000 skin microbiome strains, securing a top-tier bio-bank both domestically and internationally. Research is currently focused on microorganisms that have been verified for efficacy in strengthening the skin barrier, providing antioxidant effects, brightening, and promoting collagen production, and the company has secured related core patents to establish technological leadership.

The carotenoid-producing strain directly isolated from infant skin is reported to exhibit superior stability and human compatibility compared with conventional plant-derived ingredients. V&co is carrying out in-depth analysis of the correlation between microorganisms and skin physiological responses and is moving into full-scale design of anti-aging ingredients that are attracting attention from global companies. The company is expected to enhance the efficacy of high-functionality products through an independent lineup of bio-materials in the future.

V&co’s exosome technology is a next-generation drug delivery system designed to ensure that the secured high-efficiency ingredients reach the dermal layer of the skin. Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles that transmit signals between cells and serve to stably encapsulate active substances and deliver them deep into the skin. Through a proprietary extraction method that yields highly pure, highly concentrated exosomes during the microbial culture process, the company has overcome the limitations of existing technologies. Combined with functional ingredients and diagnostic data, this technology is expected to become a key tool for precision solutions that deliver ingredients optimized for each individual’s skin environment to the exact target area.

Photo source = V&co

In parallel, the company has completed development of “SKENA,” a high-performance AI skin measurement device that can examine both the skin surface and underlying layers at once. Moving beyond conventional visual inspection or simple photography, the device uses biophysical measurements to convert the condition of both the outer and inner skin into quantified data, enabling patients to check their current skin condition through objective indicators. Medical staff can utilize these data to design personalized procedures in advance, determining which treatments to prioritize and which areas to focus on with high precision.

V&co plans to link these research results with its hospital-use AI skin platform “SKENA” to provide customized solutions for clients.

A V&co representative stated, “Based on our end-to-end capabilities from skin analysis to material research, we are strengthening our technological competitiveness in the dermatological medical field,” adding, “Skin diagnostic technology is the starting point of material research, and the platform is the final point where its outcomes reach patients.” The representative continued, “V&co will become a unique bio-platform company that connects skin data to valuable ingredients and treatments.”