Regenext Aims for the Billion-Dollar Regenerative Medicine Market by Building a Domestic Supply Chain

In June 2018, at the Grand Final of the China Division of the “Dragon Gate Pioneer” Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the regenerative medicine project represented by Luo Guodong stood out from more than 20,000 entries across China, securing fourth place and earning a featured report on Xinwen Lianbo (CCTV News Broadcast).

At the grand finals, Luo Guodong shared insights on how domestically produced regenerative medicine can expand beyond China and reach a global audience. He argued that technology-driven enterprises must first solidify their R&D capabilities before going global, continuously improving themselves to prepare for the future substitution of imported medical devices with domestically manufactured alternatives.

In 2022, Luo Guodong returned to his hometown of Chongqing and founded Lejiste, a regenerative medicine company. Lejiste is primarily engaged in the research and development of medical devices in the field of regenerative medicine, with its products applied in oral restoration, scar-free wound healing, medical aesthetic repair, and high-end cosmetics.

In Southwest China, where regenerative medicine companies are relatively scarce, Leijieste is not content to remain in a corner; its ambitions are beginning to show. The company plans to establish a comprehensive supply chain industrial park in Fuling District, Chongqing, leveraging a strategic platform for resource sharing to drive the development of the entire regenerative medicine industry.

In 2013, Luo Guodong, a graduate of Beijing Information Science and Technology University, connected with experts in regenerative medicine through the Beijing-Chongqing Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, which serendipitously led him into the regenerative medicine industry. Throughout his career, Luo has held responsibilities spanning administration, government affairs, sales, production, and even research and development. After nearly a decade of experience in the regenerative medicine sector, he remains convinced that the industry holds immense potential.

Luo Guodong at the Fuchun Mountain · Annual Report Conference on China's Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Industry

Image source: Leijieste

Luo Guodong’s assessment is not without basis. According to data from VCBeat’s “2022 Regenerative Medicine Industry Research Report,”Currently, biomaterials in China are primarily used as medical devices in clinical applications and have become a critical foundation for the entire medical device industry, with their products accounting for approximately 40%–50% of the medical device market. In 2017, the market size of biomedical materials in China reached RMB 195.4 billion. Based on an annual compound growth rate of 16.5%, the market size is projected to reach RMB 400 billion by 2020.

In terms of niche sectors, Regest focuses on bone repair, medical aesthetics, and high-end medical devices.

The bone repair sector alone offers Registe a market opportunity worth billions. According to data from the Southern Institute, the market size of China’s bone repair materials industry is projected to reach RMB 9.69 billion in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.8% from 2018 to 2023.Among them, the market size of the orthopedic bone defect repair materials industry will reach RMB 5.34 billion, and that of the dental bone implant materials industry will reach RMB 2.60 billion.Venturing into the field of medical aesthetics has enabled Leijieste to embrace a vast blue ocean of capital. According to data from Orient Securities, the domestic ex-factory and retail market sizes for regenerative medical aesthetics are projected to reach RMB 6.7 billion and RMB 30 billion, respectively, by 2030.

From a technical standpoint, Registe is fully prepared to enter the market. According to Luo Guodong, Registe currently holds more than 10 patents and has obtained five product approval documents. The company has engaged three scientists and academicians in regenerative medicine as technical advisors. Furthermore, Registe is planning to establish an academician workstation, a postdoctoral research station, and a National Research Center for Regenerative Medicine. It already counts one scientist among its shareholders and employs five doctoral candidates.

Bioactive glass is a popular research area in the field of biomaterials. Bioactive glass is a solid, non-porous, hard bioceramic material primarily composed of silica (or silicates) and three other bioceramic components. Its degradation products can promote the production of growth factors, cell proliferation, and enhance the gene expression of osteoblasts as well as bone tissue growth. Due to its controllable degradability and ability to stimulate new tissue formation, bioactive glass is a promising material in the field of tissue engineering.

In dentistry, its applications include dental restorative materials, remineralizing agents, coating materials for dental implants, pulp capping, root canal therapy, and air abrasion; in medicine, its scope of application ranges from plastic surgery to soft tissue repair.

However, the application methods, stability, and production cost of bioactive glass have always been the main issues in bioactive glass research. To obtain bioactive glass in different forms, various studies have been conducted, such as bulk, powder, composite materials, and porous scaffolds.

Regest has resolved the water solubility issue of bioactive glass materials, enabling its regenerative materials to seamlessly integrate with medical aesthetic products. By incorporating its core technologies into its product series, Regest has accelerated the clinical application of tissue repair and in situ cell regeneration technologies.

Regest’s product portfolio is primarily focused on dental restoration, trauma repair, and medical aesthetic devices. Its main products include the Regenerative Series of wound care dressings; toothpaste and cosmetics under the “Huoli Benyuan” brand; and the “Qianmei” series of medical aesthetic products.

In the field of prosthodontics, Lejeste has launched the “Huoli Benyuan” brand toothpaste. The core ingredients of “Huoli Benyuan” toothpaste are bioactive glass and recombinant keratin. It was developed by Lejeste to address dental issues such as tooth mobility and enamel damage, as well as to resolve broader oral health problems.

“Huoli Benyuan” Toothpaste

Image source: Leijieste

Clinical studies by Lejeste on the "Huoli Benyuan" toothpaste indicate that,Both bioactive glass and fluoride iontophoresis can generate remineralized deposits on the dentin surface and within the tubules, occluding the dentinal tubules. This yields significant remineralization effects on sensitive dentin, thereby alleviating dentin hypersensitivity. Furthermore, "Huoli Benyuan" toothpaste helps inhibit plaque formation, reduce gingivitis, and improve gingival health.

Leveraging the restorative effects of “Huoli Benyuan” toothpaste on the oral cavity, Luo Guodong stated that Regest aims to differentiate it from ordinary toothpastes priced at 20–30 yuan, penetrate the high-end toothpaste market, and highlight its functional efficacy.

In the field of wound healing, Lejeste’s wound care dressings demonstrate significant application potential. Composed of regenerative medical materials, apple stem cells, epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), these dressings are indicated for fresh wounds to facilitate the repair of damaged tissues.

Medical Liquid Dressing

Image source: Leijieste

Wound-care dressings can promote the rapid healing of superficial wounds and prevent scar formation. The wound healing time for Regest’s care dressings is only 7 days, representing a 30% increase in healing speed.Its product indications include various surgical incisions and postoperative wounds with poor healing, such as traumatic gynecological conditions (e.g., cervical wounds and vulvar ulcers); burns and scalds, as well as radiation-induced burns; undermining sinus tracts surrounding wounds; and fasciotomy wounds for tension relief.

Lejiste’s “Qianmei” series of medical aesthetic products encompasses the Mesotherapy series, Skin Repair series, and Female Intimate Care series. The Mesotherapy series includes products such as Skin Regeneration Solution, Whitening and Spot-Removing Solution, and Medical-Grade Sodium Hyaluronate Solution. These mesotherapy products are formulated with high- and low-molecular-weight sodium hyaluronate to promote autologous cellular repair and ensure the stable release of active ingredients, thereby accelerating skin recovery and metabolism while providing deep hydration, long-lasting moisturization, and sustained anti-aging benefits.

“Qianmei” Series Medical Aesthetic Products: Skin Regeneration Solution for Super Shuiguang

Image source: Leijieste

To open up sales channels for the “Qianmei” series of medical aesthetics products, Leijieste plans to leverage online platforms—including its self-operated official e-commerce channel, Alibaba-affiliated e-commerce platforms, Tencent-affiliated e-commerce platforms, ByteDance-affiliated platforms, and community-based e-commerce networks—while also establishing an offline presence in public hospitals, private hospitals, beauty salon chains, and over-the-counter (OTC) outlets.

Currently, the “Huoli Benyuan” brand of toothpaste and cosmetics has been launched. Leijieste expects to complete the submission of its Class II medical device applications in the second half of 2023, covering a range of products including sterile wound care ointments, functional gauze dressings, sterile spray dressings, medical liquid dressings, and gynecological gels, while continuing to apply for Class II medical aesthetics product registration certificates.

In addition to the three major application areas mentioned above, Regest will also enter the high-end medical device market in the future, breaking through the applications of regenerative medicine medical devices in artificial bones, artificial blood vessels, artificial skin, and biodegradable cardiac stents.

Based on Luo Guodong’s assessment of industry frontiers, Leijieste has decided to focus its strategy on the marketization and commercialization of biomaterials, which also aligns with the original intent of establishing a supply chain for regenerative medicine medical device applications.

Currently, Leijieste has signed a key investment promotion agreement with the High-Tech Zone of Fuling District, Chongqing Municipality, to construct a 2,200-square-meter standardized medical device production base that will serve as the company’s manufacturing center. The construction of the standardized factory building is scheduled to be completed in the second half of 2023. For Phase II of the project, Leijieste has secured 60 mu of land and plans to establish a Regenerative Medicine Medical Device Industrial Park. By collaborating with regenerative medicine enterprises to jointly develop new products and achieve self-sustaining operational capabilities, the company aims to build an industrial park encompassing the entire upstream and downstream supply chain of the regenerative medicine industry.

Chongqing Fuling District’s Centralized Groundbreaking and Completion Ceremony for Key Projects in Q1 2023; Luo Guodong is fourth from the left

Image source: Leijieste

The industrial park will focus on the application and development of regenerative medicine medical devices, introducing advanced biotechnologies and equipment to establish a Regenerative Medicine Biotechnology Industrial Park. According to Rejeste, the park will serve regional biomedical enterprises and institutions. It is expected that by the end of 2023, two Class II innovative medical device applications will be submitted; more than 10 service docking sessions with regional pharmaceutical companies and service institutions will be completed; and over five technical incubation programs or forums will be held. By 2025, one application for a national Class III innovative medical device product will be submitted. Over a five-year period, the industrial park is projected to achieve a total output value of approximately RMB 630 million and generate tax revenue of around RMB 50 million.

Luo Guodong stated that through the industrial park, regenerative medicine companies can jointly exchange and develop technologies, apply them in a synergistic manner to create new products and technologies, and achieve chain-based development.

The construction of the industrial park is Lejiste’s first step toward penetrating the trillion-yuan market. It has even more ambitious long-term goals: to continuously expand the industrial park, form a regenerative medicine industry cluster, and ultimately become a unicorn enterprise in the regenerative medicine sector, a high-quality publicly listed company, and an industry leader in regenerative medicine.

In an interview, Luo Guodong revealed, “Leijieste may face challenges from emerging technologies in the future. What we need is to continuously raise our technological barriers, consistently upgrade our technologies and products, and remain at the forefront of technological innovation.”