[Interview] “Ranked 1st with Biodegradable Sutures, And Now Moving Onto the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Market”

Lee Jae-du (Head of Performance Unit, Medical Device Business, Samyang Holdings)

Jul. 26, 2021

[Rapportian] At the heart of Samyang’s Medical Device (MD) Business are “biodegradable surgical sutures,” also commonly known as a “dissolvable stitches.” Samyang successfully developed biodegradable sutures as the first in Korea, started its suture business in 1996, and exported 30 million USD worth of suture threads to more than 150 companies in over 45 countries last year, ranking 1st in the global suture thread market. In particular, its surgical sutures have been recognized as world-class in 2019.

Based on its accumulated polymer technology, Samyang Holdings has independently developed and recently launched not just traditional sutures but also laparoscopic barbed sutures as well as hemostatic and anti-adhesive products. Recently, it has expanded into the aesthetic plastic surgery market. In particular, MD Business’s Performance Unit (PU) has continued its largest market share, and is building a suture thread factory with an annual capacity of up to 100,000 km in Hungary in an effort to expand its reach in the global market.

Rapportian met and interviewed Samyang’s Lee Jae-du, Head of MD Business’s PU, about the company’s competitiveness in the aesthetic plastic surgery market and specific plans for its aesthetic plastic surgery business’s directions.

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- Samyang Holdings has solidified its position in the surgical market with its sutures as well as mesh and anti-adhesive products. How does Samyang’s technology compete and differentiate from competitors’?

= Samyang Holdings focuses on developing products which are safer and easier to use than other traditional products in wound closure and care. Proflex is a partially absorbable mesh for hernia repair surgery, which minimizes post-operative foreign body sensation and discomfort caused by other non-absorbable mesh products.

Monofix is a barbed suture developed for the first time in Korea and used in a robot laparoscopy suture, and its notable advantage is that it is not unraveled even if you do not tie a knot as it has fine barbs on its surface. Our independently developed stopper is mounted at the end of sutures, which helps with easier and tighter sutures. It can reduce surgery time in settings such as robot laparoscopy where it is difficult to tie a knot, and many health professionals evaluate that it is easier to use than other traditional products.

- Recently, Samyang has been moving swiftly with lift threads and polymer fillers in the global aesthetic plastic surgery market. How does Samyang’s technology in absorbable materials apply to your aesthetic products?

= There is a high level of market satisfaction in our biodegradable polymer-based aesthetic plastic surgery products in terms of safety and durability. Since our biodegradable polymer-based raw materials are completely degraded in the body and excreted while having a low level of toxicity, they can maintain efficacy more safely and longer than other traditional products in the aesthetic plastic surgery market.

We are confident that Samyang has world-class technology from biodegradable polymer-based raw materials to finished product manufacturing processes. We will satisfy unmet market needs with our biodegradable polymer-based technology.

- There is a lot of interest in the aesthetic plastic surgery filler Lafullen for which Samyang has filed for approval to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Why are PCL fillers better, and what differentiates Lafullen from other PCL fillers?

= Fillers are part of a procedure that fills up soft tissue in the face, and 90% of the products in the market are hyaluronic acid-based (HA). While HA is a safe ingredient that exists in the body, it lasts only six months and varies greatly depending on the individual if used as a filler due to its chemical “crosslinking.”

Meanwhile, polycaprolactone-based (PCL) products use biodegradable polymer-based materials that are 100% bodily absorbed, degraded and excreted, do not require chemical crosslinking, and last more than two years. However, some say that traditional PCL products are difficult to predict efficacy such as initial volume reduction after the filler procedure.

Lafullen is a PCL-based product with outstanding safety and duration. In addition, we confirmed through clinical trials that it can not only improve volume immediately, but also maintain volume in the early, middle and late stages through the latest 3D scanner analysis.

- Many products and marketing strategies are currently competing in the aesthetic plastic surgery market. What are some of Samyang’s strategies to obtain market competitiveness as a latecomer?

= Samyang’s target customers are general consumers and health professionals. While raising our brand awareness and image through brand communication with general consumers via newspapers, magazines, social media, and other channels, we will continue to provide objective data and evidence in efficacy and safety to strengthen trust.

We will reinforce academic marketing with health professionals through the training platform SYB-SMART. In particular, we will provide procedure protocols established by global consensus and a platform of the latest academic exchanges with global health professionals through continued webinars.

- It seems important to balance the lineup of existing products, which generates revenue, and new products to create more revenue. What directions does Samyang’s MD Business have?

= Samyang will continue to develop new products in wound closure and care based on our existing suture business, strengthen competitiveness further, and expand the share of business in Korea. At the same time, we will advance into aesthetic plastic surgery business, which is growing rapidly, based on our brand awareness in the suture business.

Starting with Croquis, an aesthetic plastic surgery suture we already launched, and Lafullen, a polymer-based filler for which we are aiming to obtain approval at the end of this year, we will continue to develop independently and expand our product portfolio through partnerships with others.