VCs back South Korean biopharma player ExoCoBio

The company will use the capital to establish new research and development and manufacturing facilities for its cosmetic products, aimed at commercializing them in the near future. It will also develop applications for its technologies to treat major diseases over the longer term.

ExoCoBio was founded earlier this year to explore medical and cosmetics applications of exosomes, chemicals secreted by cells for intercellular signaling, waste management, and coagulation. Exosomes have been found to stimulate cellular regeneration and have attracted considerable attention in recent years for their potential in disease detection and treatment.

“Our exosomes have the effect of regenerating a variety of tissues such as skin and adipose, making them superior to existing cosmeceuticals,” said ExoCoBio CEO Byong Cho in a statement. “This large-scale investment will be the keystone to developing exosome-based cosmeceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.”

SBI Investment is the VC arm of Japan’s SBI Holdings; the Korea branch focuses on start-up and early stage investments in Korean and Chinese companies in the electronics, information technology, manufacturing, medical and telecommunications sectors. Recent Korea healthcare investments include pharmaceutical ingredients supplier Sungwun Pharmacopia and contract research organization Biocore.

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• Topics
• North Asia
• Healthcare
• Early-stage
• South Korea
• Pharmaceuticals
• SBI Holdings
• Atinum Partners