COSMAX Launches VIVA Project With Harvard

At the 'COSMAX-MGB Joint Research Agreement Ceremony' held at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, the United States, on Oct. 13 (local time), COSMAX Group Chairman Lee Kyung-soo (right) and Mike McNally, chief development officer of MGB, pose for a commemorative photo. (Provided by COSMAX)  COSMAX said on Oct. 21 that it signed the 'Microbiome Second Joint Research (VIVA Project) Agreement' with Mass General Brigham (MGB), the Harvard Medical School-affiliated teaching hospital network, at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, the United States. The signing ceremony was attended by senior executives from both sides, including COSMAX Group Chairman Lee Kyung-soo, COSMAX BTI Chief Executive Officer Lee Byung-joo, and the president of MGH. The two sides have already produced visible results through the first phase of basic and translational research conducted since 2024. By combining COSMAX's skin microbiome data with MGB's clinical data, they identified a mechanism through which substances derived from specific microorganisms alleviate symptoms of atopic dermatitis and improve the skin barrier. The findings were published in the international academic journal 'Allergy,' and a domestic patent application has also been completed. Based on that foundation, COSMAX plans to significantly expand the scope of research and pursue the second-phase study, the 'VIVA Project,' from 2026 to 2029. At the core of the VIVA Project is the development of high-value-added materials that go beyond cosmetic ingredients. In particular, it will focus on exploring materials for weight and metabolic management, a recent key topic in the medical field. One of its main goals is to discover lactic acid bacteria and functional ingredients for health functional foods that work through mechanisms similar to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The company also plans to actively use MGB's clinical infrastructure to commercialize anti-aging and slow-aging solutions. In the research process, it will introduce AI-based analysis technology and apply a 'scientific colleague' approach in which researchers and AI interact to design hypotheses and optimize candidate materials, with the aim of speeding up development. COSMAX has also upgraded its manufacturing base so that research outcomes can lead to actual commercialization. It has obtained recognition of conformity with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards for medical device manufacturing and quality control, while also completing the development of a Class 2 adhesive transparent wound dressing and the establishment of its production system, finishing preparations for the commercialization of bio-healthcare materials. Lee Kyung-soo, chairman of COSMAX Group, emphasized, "As we have delivered tangible results in the first joint research phase, we will secure technological leadership through the VIVA Project," adding, "Starting with cosmetics, we will change the landscape of the bio and medical fields."