Maybio Biotech – Focusing on the Blue Ocean Upstream of Medical Aesthetics, a New Pioneer in Human-Derived ECM Composite Collagen

On August 16, 2021, Beijing Maybio Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd. announced the completion of a Series A financing round worth tens of millions of RMB, led by Alwin Capital, with Tengyun Great Health and existing shareholder Danlu Capital continuing to follow on. On February 9, 2021, Maybio Biotech received tens of millions in angel investment from Danlu Capital.

Maybio Biotech is an innovative enterprise focused on the R&D, production, and sales of medical aesthetic-related products. It is also China's first enterprise to efficiently produce human-derived ECM composite collagen using in vitro tissue engineering technology, having now achieved scaled mass production.

About Us

Maybio Biotechnology was founded in 2019 by a consortium including professors and Ph.D. holders who returned from studies in the US and Germany affiliated with Peking University and Sichuan University. The company is dedicated to advancing the global field of cell medical therapy, providing a series of comprehensive medical solutions including cells, biomaterials, human-derived growth factors, human-derived collagen, and more.

The company uses "human mesenchymal stem cells" as the expression vector, achieving the safe and efficient industrialized production of composite human collagen. Maybio's total factory area in Changsha is 2,200 m². Phase I has put into operation a 1,500 m² GMP workshop for high-viscosity sterile gel formulation and filling, with an annual production capacity of 800,000 units of sterile gel.

Team/Technology

Zhang Yan:

Deputy General Manager of Maybio. Possesses 15 years of senior management experience in the pharmaceutical and medical aesthetics industry. Proficient in brand strategy construction. Previously worked for over 10 years at Fortune 500 multinational corporations Eli Lilly and Allergan. Successfully led the entire 0-1 process from inception to launch for Letybo and Yuebaizhiji.

Xiao E:
Chairman and CEO of Maybio. Holds a Ph.D. in Maxillofacial Surgery from Peking University Health Science Center. Deputy Director of the Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Bionic Maxillofacial Regenerative Materials. Vice President of the Regenerative Medicine Branch and Vice President of the Biomedical Technology Branch of the Chinese Association of Plastics and Aesthetics.

Wei Qiang:
Chief Scientist of Maybio. Holds a Ph.D. from Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, and is a National High-Level Overseas Talent Introduction Program recipient. Wei Qiang has long been deeply involved in the field of biomedical research. Formerly served as Project Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Germany, leading cutting-edge research projects. Has cumulatively published over 300 SCI papers (total impact factor > 300). 

The company focuses on upstream medical aesthetic raw materials, developing its proprietary "human mesenchymal stem cell" expression vector system. Through in vitro tissue engineering technology, it maximally replicates the components of human extracellular matrix composite collagen, namely the "MB Protein (maybio matrix)" component. This protein-based skin filler material combines laboratory-pure human composite collagen with a new cross-linking technology using polymer materials, solving the problems of rapid collagen degradation and poor bio-inductivity of synthetic polymer materials.

Using healthy human-derived stem cells as the expression vector overcomes the drawbacks of collagen expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms (difficult expression, low yield, lack of post-translational modification, etc.). It maximally replicates human extracellular matrix components. Moreover, the human stem cells themselves possess human collagen genes, eliminating the need for potentially risky methods like viruses or plasmids to introduce foreign genes, resulting in higher safety.

The human extracellular matrix composite collagen component developed by the company possesses excellent repair, guided regeneration capabilities, and biocompatibility. It promotes cell growth and adhesion, synergistically repairs wounds, and can be used as injectable fillers and wound healing materials, finding broad application in both surgical and non-surgical medical aesthetics.

Currently, the company's main business focuses on maxillofacial regenerative biological scaffold materials (medical devices) for volume restoration, tightening and lifting, and skin tissue repair. Leveraging its technological barriers, it can also provide biotechnology raw materials for medical laboratories, pharmaceutical and consumable production companies, extend product lines, enhance product efficacy, and provide OEM services.

Industry Background

Collagen is the most abundant and widely distributed functional protein in mammals, accounting for 25-30% of the total protein in the human body and up to 70% of skin composition. It plays roles in maintaining skin and muscle elasticity, enhancing the binding of calcium to bone cells, connecting bones and muscles, and maintaining corneal transparency, among others.

Structurally, collagen consists of three polypeptide chains intertwined to form a unique triple helix structure. Numerous collagen macromolecules can align side-by-side to form fibers with cross-linked structures, giving the final product high mechanical strength, forming the basis of its physicochemical properties and biological activity.

Currently, about 29 types of collagen have been confirmed to exist in vertebrates. Among the many types, Collagen I, II, III, IV, V, and XI are more common, with only types I, II, and III having achieved industrialization.

Type I Collagen is the most abundant in the human body, accounting for about 80%-90% of total collagen. It is found in large quantities in adult skin tissue, bones, and tendons, providing structural support for tissue function. Type II Collagen is mainly found in cartilage tissue and can repair damaged cartilage, used for joint cavity lubrication. Type III Collagen is immature and delicate collagen, mainly found in infant skin, playing a role in maintaining skin elasticity and injury repair. Wounds under its influence do not form scars.

Collagen production primarily involves complex biological reactions: Amino acids → Polypeptide chains → Procollagen (triple helix monomer) → Fibril → Collagen fiber (4 steps). The synthesis process involves hundreds of enzymatic reactions as well as folding, dissolution, sorting, and transportation.

Because of this, collagen's properties are superior to linear-structured medical aesthetic raw materials like hyaluronic acid, chitosan, and polylactic acid. It possesses unique biological activities such as high tensile strength, biodegradability, low antigenic activity, low irritation, and low cytotoxicity. Furthermore, when used as a scaffold for artificial organs or wound dressings, it can promote cell growth, enhance cell adhesion, and synergistically repair wounds with new cells and tissues.

 However, although collagen appeared earlier than hyaluronic acid (HA), the technical barriers in collagen production at the time, coupled with its high cost and the potential for immune rejection from animal-derived sources, led to its market acceptance being gradually replaced by "hyaluronic acid" which emerged in the 1990s.

 Hyaluronic acid is a viscous polysaccharide with moisturizing properties, keeping skin soft, smooth, and hydrated. Collagen provides structural support to the skin and has some water-retaining function, but its moisturizing effect is not as strong as hyaluronic acid. Therefore, HA is suitable for dry skin lacking moisture, while collagen is more suitable for aging and damaged skin. In recent years, with breakthroughs in collagen production technology, rapid market growth is expected.

Based on extraction technology and production processes, collagen can be divided into two categories: animal-derived collagen and genetically engineered collagen.

Animal-derived collagen is primarily prepared from animal tissues and allogeneic tissues (skin, placenta, etc.), with sources like pig skin, bovine Achilles tendon, and fish skin being common. Bovine collagen holds over 1/3 of the market share, and bovine collagen has relatively less collagen lipids, making the material softer; porcine collagen has better thermal stability; marine biological collagen has seen rapid growth in recent years due to its high biocompatibility and absence of animal disease concerns. However, due to traceability issues, marine collagen is mostly used in food and cosmetics, with less application in medical collagen.

Recombinant collagen is primarily obtained by constructing an expression system, followed by fermentation and purification to produce recombinant collagen protein. This involves designing, enzymatically cutting, and splicing the target gene according to the human collagen gene sequence and connecting it to a vector; introducing it into a host cell for fermentation to induce the expression of recombinant collagen or human-like protein; and then separation and purification.

 Compared to animal extraction methods, recombinant collagen has a shorter production cycle, higher purity, higher human affinity, avoids immunogenicity issues, has no viral risk (higher safety), and its yield can be significantly increased with process improvements and equipment upgrades. However, the content of recombinant collagen is currently low, and scaling will be achieved through technological breakthroughs and capacity expansion by leading manufacturers. Currently, the construction of expression systems can be divided into 3 types based on the host cell: microbial, animal, and plant. Among them, microbial fermentation systems (like E. coli and Pichia pastoris, most common domestically and internationally) have lower costs, shorter cycles, easier cultivation, and are more conducive to commercial production.

 Collagen has attracted significant attention because it is a crucial protein component of skin tissue. The loss of collagen, on one hand, causes skin laxity and issues like eye bags. On the other hand, as the skin's ability to recover its original structure and shape weakens, the dermal fibers become brittle, fat atrophies, leading to skin deformation and subsequently wrinkles.

In recent years, with the rapid development of biomedical technology and the "appearance economy," the application of collagen in the medical aesthetics field has become increasingly popular. Currently, collagen is primarily applied in medical aesthetics in two forms: as medical dressings and as injectable fillers (often used for tear trough filling). Beyond medical aesthetics, as a widely applicable biomedical material, collagen is also used in dressings, regenerative medicine for artificial organs, tissue engineering, and biological skincare.

 According to a Grand View Research report, the global collagen market size grew from $12.66 billion in 2016 to $15.36 billion in 2019, with a 3-year CAGR of 6.7%. It is projected to grow from $15.68 billion in 2020 to $22.62 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 5.4% over the next 7 years, maintaining stable growth. The healthcare market is the primary application area for collagen, accounting for approximately 49.9% ($77.59 billion) of the global market in 2020.

The collagen application market is experiencing remarkable expansion, driven by rapidly growing demand and significant advancements in production technology. Within this booming sector, recombinant collagen products are gaining increasing favor due to their superior advantages:

High Biocompatibility | Enhanced Safety | Superior Transport & Storage.

2021 China recombinant collagen protein product market scale reached 10.8 billion yuan, representing 37.7% of the total collagen product market. By 2027, China's recombinant collagen market is expected to reach RMB 108.3 billion, capturing a 62.3% market share. 

Medical skin repair dressings are another major application area for collagen. This market is currently experiencing rapid growth, with a compound annual growth rate exceeding 40%. Consumption reached 340 million pieces in 2019, with sales exceeding 5 billion RMB. Compared to cosmetic-grade repair masks, medical repair dressings require medical device approval. Currently, most are Class I or II devices; Class III medical device approvals are scarce. As of June 30, 2020, only "Rongsheng" and "TRAUER" possessed Class III dressing approvals. 

In the field of recombinant collagen industrialization, foreign companies started with food-grade and medical collagen, mainly using animal-derived sources. Currently, China's recombinant technology leads the world level. Companies like Giant Biogene, Jinbo Biotech, and Chuangming Medical are leading domestic recombinant collagen producers. Their collagen subtypes are mainly Type I and III collagen, and product forms include collagen gel, dressings, repair solutions, and more.

Summary

 Maybio Biotech's "proprietary biological laboratory" – globally leading scientific research level and output. Using sterile production processes based on vaccine technology, it has developed proprietary stem cell differentiation technology to mass-produce fully human-derived ECM, achieving the only truly pure, industrialized, safe, and efficient production of human ECM. It is poised for rapid growth in the blue ocean market of pure human-derived collagen upstream in the medical aesthetics industry.

References:
[1] Company Official Website
[2] Arterial Network - Maybio Biotechnology Secures Another Tens of Millions in Series A Funding, Ushering in the Era of Regenerative Medicine 2.0
[3] Huachuang Securities - Collagen Industry In-depth Research Report: The "New" Life of Collagen, a Potential Blue Ocean
[4] Shenwan Hongyuan - Collagen Industry In-depth: Medical Aesthetics and Skincare Advance Rapidly, Collagen Gathers Momentum for Takeoff
[5] TF Securities - Upstream Collagen Market Booms, Recombinant Collagen R&D Accelerates to Broaden Application Scenarios