PHI BIOMED

What PHI BIOMED does

PHI BIOMED (피바이오메드) is a Seoul-based, privately held biopharmaceutical company founded in February 2014 by Dr. Won Jin Park of Wonjin Beauty Medical Group and Prof. Sei Kwang Hahn of POSTECH. Operating with 1-10 employees across a Seoul headquarters, a Pohang laboratory at the POSTECH Bio Open Innovation Center, and a San Jose, USA office, the company develops smart biomaterials and nanomedicines built on hyaluronic acid (HA) derivative platforms. Its portfolio spans cosmeceutical products (PHI-EGF Rejuvenate Serum, Essence, and serum set priced $40-$140), industrial/reagent-grade HA derivatives (HA-ADH, HA-HMDA, HA-Cystamine, HA-Aldehyde, HA-SH), and preclinical pipeline products including the gold-nanowire-based smart contact lens for diabetes and glaucoma monitoring with integrated biosensor, drug delivery, WiTricity wireless power and thin film battery, transdermal hyaluronate-protein conjugates for growth hormone and vaccine delivery, Flt1 peptide-HA anti-angiogenic nanoparticles, and CB[6]/DAH-HA hydrogels encapsulating engineered mesenchymal stem cells for cancer and ischemic disease therapy.

The company monetizes through a direct-to-consumer online shop (phibiomed.co.kr) selling PHI-EGF cosmetics and HA derivatives, alongside business-to-business revenue lines covering manufacturing and distribution of medical and veterinary supplies, development and licensing of biological medicines including cell therapy and gene-engineering products, technology transfer and licensing of its biomaterial platforms, and contract R&D and consulting services. Its go-to-market mixes bottom-of-funnel DTC e-commerce with top-of-funnel scientific publications, conferences (World Biomaterials Congress, MRS, CRS, TERMIS, IUPAC), trade exhibitions (CES 2021/2022, COSMOPROF Asia, World IT Show, Creative Economy Expo), and earned media in Korean outlets (SBS, Arirang TV, Chosun, Maeil Business News).

PHI BIOMED's competitive position rests on a deep research network anchored by Prof. Hahn's POSTECH laboratory (BNL) and Harvard Medical School collaborations, with granted and pending patents co-owned across POSTECH, Harvard Medical School, and PHI BIOMED. Strategic partners Samsung Science & Technology Foundation (development funding), Interojo and LG Innotek (commercialization for smart contact lens), Wonjin Beauty Medical Group (clinic channel), and Samsung Electronics/LG Life Sciences support multi-domain reach. Commercial revenue is not publicly disclosed; total disclosed equity funding is approximately $6.9 million, anchored by a 2018 Interojo round, and the smart contact lens is targeted for commercialization in 2027, indicating most economic value is currently in the preclinical pipeline rather than existing sales.

Name

PHI BIOMED

Legal name

PHI BIOMED

Website

https://phibiomed.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PHI BIOMED is a Seoul-based biopharmaceutical company developing hyaluronic acid-based smart biomaterials, including a preclinical smart contact lens for diabetes/glaucoma monitoring and a portfolio of cosmeceuticals and HA derivative reagents sold via direct-to-consumer online shop and B2B partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceuticals & Smart Biomaterials

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Connected Therapeutics & Smart Drug Delivery Monitoring (HLACAFAL)

Keywords

• Smart biomaterials
• Nanomedicines
• Hyaluronic acid derivatives
• Cosmeceutical products
• Smart contact lenses

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cosmeceutical Products: Sale of PHI-EGF skincare products (serums, essences) and HA derivatives through the company online shop. One-time product sales to consumers.
2. Medical Products and Supplies: Manufacturing, import, and distribution of medicine, medical supplies, veterinary supplies, and agricultural supplies.
3. Biological Medicine: Development, manufacture, export and distribution of biological medicines including cell therapy products and gene engineering-based new medicines.
4. Technology Transfer and Licensing: Lease or transfer of use of developed technology including smart biomaterials and drug delivery platforms.
5. R&D Services: Medical product research and development, contract manufacturing, and consulting services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PHI BIOMED is a South Korean biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes hyaluronic-acid-based smart biomaterials and nanomedicines. It sells consumer-grade PHI-EGF cosmeceutical skincare products direct-to-consumer while supplying biofunctional HA derivatives, contract R&D, and technology-transfer/licensing services to cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and biomedical companies. A flagship pipeline asset is a smart contact lens platform integrating a gold-nanowire biosensor, on-lens drug delivery, and wireless power transfer for continuous ocular diagnostics.

Product overview

PHI BIOMED is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in smart biomaterials and nanomedicines. The company offers a portfolio of products centered on three main categories: (1) PHI-EGF Cosmedicals - epidermal growth factor-based skincare products; (2) HA Derivatives - hyaluronic acid-based materials for biomedical and cosmetic applications; and (3) Smart Contact Lens - a wireless-powered theranostic device for real-time disease monitoring and drug delivery for diabetes and glaucoma. Additionally, the company has a pipeline of advanced drug delivery technologies including transdermal protein conjugates, anti-angiogenic nanoparticles, and stem cell-encapsulating hydrogels. The Smart Contact Lens is being commercialized in partnership with Interojo and LG Innotek.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PHI-EGF: EGF-based cosmedical products including Rejuvenate Serum and Essence for anti-aging treatment
• HA Derivatives
• Smart Contact Lens

Products and services

• PHI-EGF Cosmeceuticals (PHI-EGF Skin Booster, PHI-EGF Skin Recharger, PHI-EGF Hair Line) Functional cosmetics (cosmedicals) leveraging hyaluronic acid–EGF conjugate technology for skin rejuvenation and hair/scalp care. Product family includes PHI-EGF Skin Booster and PHI-EGF Skin Recharger (skin anti-aging serums/sets) and the PHI-EGF Hair Line (hair/scalp care). Targeted at individual consumers seeking clinically positioned anti-aging and regenerative skincare products.
• Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Derivatives (HA-ADH, HA-HMDA, HA-Cystamine, HA-Aldehyde, HA-SH, and related biofunctional HA derivatives) Biofunctional hyaluronic acid derivative raw materials — including adipic dihydrazide-modified HA (HA-ADH), hexamethylenediamine-modified HA (HA-HMDA), HA-cystamine, HA-aldehyde, and thiolated HA (HA-SH) — supplied to biomedical and cosmetics companies for use in drug delivery, tissue engineering, fillers, and other advanced formulations. Sold on a B2B basis.
• Hyaluronate Cell Therapy (Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Filler) Hydrogel filler / cell therapy product based on hyaluronic acid hydrogel technology, positioned for tissue regeneration and skin rejuvenation. Combines HA hydrogel filler technology with hyaluronic acid–EGF conjugates. Targeted at the regenerative aesthetics market.
• Smart Contact Lens (gold-nanowire biosensor + on-lens drug delivery + wireless power) Integrated smart contact lens that combines a gold-nanowire-based biosensor for continuous tear-fluid biomarker monitoring (e.g., glucose, intraocular pressure, dopamine) with on-lens drug-delivery capability and wireless power transfer. Intended for ocular disease diagnostics, continuous health monitoring, and ocular drug delivery. Commercialization in partnership with Interojo and LG Innotek.
• Flt1 Peptide-HA Conjugate Nanoparticles Flt1 peptide–hyaluronic acid conjugate nanoparticles designed for anti-angiogenic therapy, with primary indications in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and corneal neovascularization. Pipeline-stage asset targeting technology-transfer and licensing partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.
• Transdermal Hyaluronate-Protein Conjugate (e.g., HA-Exenatide) Transdermal delivery technology using hyaluronate-protein conjugates (e.g., HA-Exenatide, a GLP-1 analog conjugate) to enable sustained delivery of therapeutic proteins through the skin. Targets metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes/obesity) applications where non-invasive, sustained protein delivery is desirable. Preclinical stage.
• CB[6]/DAH-HA Hydrogels encapsulating Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) CB[6]/diaminohexane-HA (DAH-HA) supramolecular hydrogel technology for 3D encapsulation and delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Designed for regenerative-medicine applications requiring controlled delivery and viability of encapsulated stem cells. Pipeline-stage asset, not yet commercially launched.
• R&D Services and Contract Manufacturing Custom research, development, and contract-manufacturing services provided to cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and biomedical companies. Leverages PHI BIOMED's hyaluronic-acid biomaterial platform, manufacturing capabilities, and R&D expertise to support external product development programs.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Harvard Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research collaboration for next-generation healthcare technologies including smart contact lens development and transdermal protein delivery systems. Prof. Hahn conducted sabbatical research at Harvard (2012-2013) developing theranostic systems. Work published in Nature Photonics.
• InterojocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean contact lens manufacturer collaborating for smart contact lens commercialization together with LG Innotek. Multiple meetings documented in company records.
• Wonjin Beauty Medical GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by co-founder Dr. Won Jin Park. Wonjin Beauty Medical Group is the medical/aesthetic clinic operation that contributed to PHI BIOMED's founding.
• BNL (Bio Nano Lab POSTECH)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch laboratory led by Prof. Sei Kwang Hahn at POSTECH, core research partner for biomaterials development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Mesoblast: Clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing mesenchymal stem cell therapies for inflammatory and degenerative diseases. Comparable to PHI BIOMED's CB[6]/DAH-HA MSC-encapsulating hydrogels pipeline for cell therapy delivery.
• BIND Therapeutics: Developed polymeric nanoparticle drug-delivery platforms (acquired by Pfizer) for targeted therapeutics. Comparable to PHI BIOMED's Flt1 peptide-HA conjugate nanoparticles for targeted ocular anti-angiogenic therapy and oncology.
• Verily (Alphabet): Alphabet's life sciences subsidiary that has explored glucose-sensing and drug-delivery smart contact lenses with Alcon. Comparable in target application (smart contact lens for chronic disease monitoring/treatment) and as a well-capitalized deep-tech competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Bausch + Lomb: Diversified ophthalmic company spanning contact lenses, intraocular lenses, pharmaceuticals, and surgical devices. Comparable as an incumbent that could partner with or compete against PHI BIOMED in ocular drug delivery and smart lens commercialization.
• Alcon: Global ophthalmic device and pharmaceutical leader with deep glaucoma, cataract, and contact lens portfolios. Relevant as the dominant commercialization incumbent for any novel ocular drug-delivery or monitoring device and a potential strategic acquirer of PHI BIOMED's smart lens IP.
• Johnson & Johnson Vision: Major contact lens and ophthalmic medical device manufacturer (Acuvue, TECNIS). Comparable as both a potential manufacturing/distribution partner for PHI BIOMED's smart lens and a competitor with superior scale, regulatory infrastructure, and clinical-trial capabilities.
• Galderma: Global dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company (owned by Nestlé and L'Oréal) with leading cosmeceutical and aesthetic brands. Comparable as a potential strategic acquirer or distribution partner for PHI BIOMED's PHI-EGF cosmeceutical line and HA-based dermal filler.
• Nektar Therapeutics: Biopharmaceutical company specializing in polymer-conjugate drug delivery platforms including transdermal and PEGylated protein delivery. Comparable to PHI BIOMED's transdermal protein delivery and conjugate-based platforms in addressing bioavailability of biologic therapeutics.
• Surmodics: Provider of surface modification and drug delivery coatings for medical devices, including ophthalmic and combination products. Comparable to PHI BIOMED's biomaterial-based drug delivery approach and combination product strategy.

Direct peers

• Sensimed: Swiss developer of the Triggerfish smart contact lens for continuous 24-hour intraocular pressure monitoring in glaucoma patients. Most directly comparable to PHI BIOMED's smart contact lens pipeline in target indication (glaucoma), form factor, and biosensor integration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PHI BIOMED