Cellontech Supplies 'Bio-Collagen', Raw Material for Artificial Corneas, to Swedish Bio Company

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] SC Engineering announced on the 11th that its consolidated subsidiary Cellontech will supply "biocollagen," used as a raw material for "bioengineered artificial corneas," to Sweden's LinkoCare Life Sciences.

LinkoCare, a Swedish company developing tissue engineering-based medical products, is promoting the commercialization of bioengineered artificial corneas developed using Cellontech's proprietary biocollagen. Cellontech has maintained a close cooperative relationship with LinkoCare since LinkoCare began developing artificial corneas in 2010.

A Cellontech official introduced the biocollagen raw material export, stating, "We supplied additional quantities for LinkoCare to use in clinical trials for obtaining European market approval for the artificial cornea product."

He added, "The products LinkoCare is developing using Cellontech's biocollagen include three items: bioengineered corneal implants, bioengineered corneal microlenses for presbyopia, and contact lenses for myopia management targeting dry eye patients by LinkoCare's subsidiary, Naturallens."

He said, "LinkoCare and Naturallens plan to mass-produce using biocollagen once the artificial cornea products are commercialized," and predicted, "The market impact will be significant by expanding biocollagen exports and meeting the high demand in the artificial cornea market."

Artificial corneas are considered the only alternative to address the shortage of donated corneas and post-transplant complications. According to market research firm MarketsandMarkets, the global artificial cornea and corneal transplant market is expected to reach $599.2 million (approximately 760 billion KRW) by 2026. Expanding the scope to patients with fundus diseases requiring corneal transplants, the market is analyzed to be worth 60 trillion KRW.

Hyung Jinwoo, CEO of Cellontech, said, "We hope the excellent quality of biocollagen will bring hope to corneal transplant waiters," and added, "We will expand the scope from cartilage, bone, and skin tissue regeneration fields to the biomaterial market for bioartificial organ regeneration such as artificial corneas."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.