IlDong Pharmaceutical Group will establish a joint venture with Nine Company to enter the functional skincare market. By combining its self-developed microbeome-based cosmetic ingredients with Nine Company’s brand management and marketing capabilities, the group plans to unveil high-functionality skincare products starting next year.
IlDong Pharmaceutical Group announced on the 27th that it established a joint venture named ‘IDNINE’ with Nine Company and held a launch ceremony at Nine Company in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the 26th.
IDNINE will target the beauty and healthcare markets by combining IlDong Pharmaceutical Group’s probiotics and microbeome research and development (R&D) technology with Nine Company’s brand planning and marketing capabilities. In particular, it has set dermocosmetics, which involves developing functional cosmetics based on skin science, as its primary business area.
The core ingredient is ‘Cera-Glow,’ developed by IlDong Pharmaceutical Group using proprietary technology. As a microbeome-based probiotic cosmetic ingredient, Cera-Glow is characterized by its ability to aid in the production of ceramides, key lipid components that make up the skin barrier. Ceramides help reduce moisture loss from the skin and protect it from external stimuli.
IlDong Pharmaceutical Group has been researching the potential applications in skincare based on more than 20 active metabolites produced during the fermentation process of probiotic strains. Currently, the group holds two patents related to Cera-Glow and two SCI-level research papers. SCI-level research papers refer to research results published in internationally recognized academic journals, signifying that the scientific basis and research outcomes of the technology have undergone external academic review.
IDNINE will develop products specialized in skin barrier management using Cera-Glow and plans to sequentially launch a high-functionality skincare product line starting in 2027. The company aims to secure product competitiveness by combining IlDong Pharmaceutical Group’s material development and R&D capabilities with Nine Company’s brand management and marketing experience.
The establishment of this joint venture is significant as it marks IlDong Pharmaceutical Group’s expansion of technologies accumulated in its existing pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses into the cosmetics sector. Nine Company will also broaden its business scope by offering functional skincare products leveraging pharmaceutical and biotech technology.
An official from IlDong Pharmaceutical Group stated, “We will actively utilize the business capabilities and R&D competitiveness that IlDong Group possesses in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, while sparing no effort to create market results and achieve common goals through close cooperation with Nine Company.”
An official from Nine Company said, “Recent trends in the beauty and healthcare sector show a preference for products that not only have scientific evidence and functionality but also possess a differentiated brand image and identity,” adding, “We plan to unveil a high-functionality skincare LINE reflecting Nine Company’s marketing network and sophisticated branding techniques.”
in THEBIO
