Zhan Yan Bio: Precision Skincare Solutions Powered by Medical-Research Collaboration and Synthetic Biology

Safeguarding the skin barrier is the first step toward achieving healthy skin and the foundation of effective skincare. Once the skin barrier is compromised, the skin’s resistance and immune function decline, making it more susceptible to infections by external microorganisms or pathogenic bacteria, as well as allergic reactions. This can lead to symptoms such as itching, redness, swelling, pain, and peeling.

According to the “Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sensitive Skin in China,” the prevalence of sensitive skin among Asian women is approximately 40%–56%, with a rate of about 36% in China. In recent years, the rapid popularization of skin care management procedures has also spurred a rigid demand for post-procedure skin repair.

Mr. Zhang Yingting, founder of JUYOU Bio-tech, told VCBeat that China’s functional skincare market is entering a phase of rapid growth, as growing public attention to skin concerns continues to drive an upgrade in consumer attitudes. With over two decades of experience and industry expertise in dermatological pharmaceuticals, JUYOU Bio-tech recognizes that many skin issues stem from varying degrees of skin barrier impairment. Only a healthy skin barrier can deliver optimal skin condition.

JUYOU Bio-tech, which received exclusive investment from CDH Baifu this October, is an innovative enterprise specializing in the R&D, production, and sales of synthetic biology raw materials, biomedical materials, and dermatological-grade skincare products, dedicated to providing precise and efficient solutions for skin concerns.After years of accumulation and consolidation, the company has established a brand portfolio comprising multiple brands, including JUYOU, Defeilin, and Zhan Xiaoyan.

“Co-creation of Medicine and Research” is the starting point of JUYOU Bio-tech, as well as its powerful innovation engine.

In 1998, Zhang Yingting embarked on his professional career at a renowned pharmaceutical company, driven by his passion for the pharmaceutical industry. Through extensive interactions with numerous dermatologists, he observed that physicians typically employ functional skincare products or medical device-class products as adjuncts to pharmacological treatments in the management of skin diseases.

At that time, there were no domestic products specifically targeting compromised skin barriers, forcing consumers to rely on expensive foreign functional skincare products to address skin sensitivity. Recognizing this gap, Zhang Yinting strategically anticipated market demand and positioned “skin barrier repair” as the core focus. By integrating medical research collaboration with biotechnology, the brand provided precise and highly effective solutions for skin concerns.

In its early startup phase, JUYOU Bio-tech collaborated with the Xi’an Institute of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine and dermatology experts to jointly develop a skin-repair dressing, which was primarily distributed through professional medical channels. Upon its market launch, the product gained widespread acclaim from numerous dermatologists and patients. Since then, JUYOU Bio-tech has remained committed to the model of co-creation between medicine and research, establishing deep partnerships with multiple medical and skincare research centers across China and with professional medical institutions, while working alongside medical experts to build a collaborative ecosystem.

JUYOU Bio-tech remains steadfast in its commitment to evidence-based medicine. In addition to the efficacy testing mandated by national regulations, the company conducts extensive additional evidence-based medical research, such as publishing clinical literature, test reports, and industry white papers. All products in JUYOU’s portfolio have been tested and certified by authoritative third-party institutions both domestically and internationally.

After years of accumulation, JUYOU Bio-tech has published more than ten papers on basic research and efficacy observations in important academic journals at home and abroad, possessing over 300 authoritative test reports, more than 100 clinical literature references, and over 2,000 real-world clinical cases.

“Synthetic biology technology” is the foundation of JUYOU Bio-tech and its technological weapon for exploring the deep waters of research and development.

JUYOU Bio-tech currently operates two major genetic engineering R&D platforms: Yingpu Boji and Denuo Haisi, with a research team of nearly 100 members. Yingpu Boji focuses on the development of peptide drugs and functional proteins, while Denuo Haisi specializes in genetic engineering modification and scaled-up production of eukaryotes, undertaking the R&D and pilot-scale production of JUYOU’s bioactive proteins.

Grounded in synthetic biology, JUYOU Bio-tech continuously breaks through scientific research challenges. It has achieved the R&D and mass production of bioactive materials at the raw material stage, including recombinant mussel adhesive protein, Type A recombinant humanized Type III collagen, recombinant fibronectin, and recombinant superoxide dismutase. These materials have now been applied to multiple product series under the JUYOU brand.

Furthermore, JUYOU Bio-tech continuously explores cutting-edge industry technologies, providing a solid foundation for product research and development. Currently, JUYOU Bio-tech has secured numerous patents for terminal applications in fields such as synthetic biology technology for bioactive molecule synthesis, immobilized enzyme catalysis technology, high-density fermentation and purification technology, key technologies for recombinant protein-based anti-inflammatory and wound-healing promotion, biomedical material construction technology, and patented raw material formulation technology. This comprehensive patent portfolio covers the entire industrial chain, ranging from bioactive raw materials to biomedical materials, medical end-products, and dermatological-grade skincare products.

By gaining insights into the diverse needs of consumers and grasping new consumption trends, JUYOU Bio-tech has precisely positioned its different brands to target distinct market segments: “JUYOU” focuses on skin concerns, specializing in barrier repair; “Defilin” is a professional-grade brand dedicated to bioactive composite acids; and “JUYOU Baby” is a functional skincare brand for infants and children.

Taking the company’s brand “JUYOU” as an example, it offers both cosmetic-grade and medical device-grade products. Currently, JUYOU’s flagship medical device-grade product is a Skin Repair Dressing, identical to the professional-grade version used in clinical settings. Its main ingredient is triple sodium hyaluronate. As a hydrating and reparative dressing, it is suitable for post-procedure care following facial laser treatments and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, as well as for sensitive skin, enabling targeted, stage-specific repair of compromised skin barriers after aesthetic procedures.

Among cosmetic-grade products, the Triple Protein series has received widespread acclaim from consumers. The series includes toner, lotion, cream, facial mask, and facial mist, with its key ingredients being recombinant mussel adhesive protein, Type A recombinant humanized Type III collagen, and fibronectin.Three Proteins. These three protein ingredients are all self-developed. Through their synergistic action, they leverage biological power to directly target the root causes of redness and sensitivity, effectively soothing and reducing redness.

Recombinant mussel adhesive protein functions as a "molecular anchor," providing skin-adherent protection and shielding against irritants to create a favorable microenvironment for skin repair, thereby rapidly alleviating erythema and associated discomfort. Recombinant humanized collagen directly regulates and accelerates keratinocyte proliferation and migration, facilitating the restoration of the stratum corneum's "brick-and-mortar" structure and reducing skin sensitivity at its source. Recombinant fibronectin serves as an indispensable "golden partner" to recombinant collagen during the skin repair process, synergistically enhancing collagen’s reparative efficacy and further strengthening the soothing of erythema and relief of discomfort.

It is worth noting that mussel mucin was originally extremely rare, earning it the title of “gold from the sea.”JUYOU Bio-tech is the first company in China to develop recombinant mussel adhesive protein by leveraging gene recombination, fermentation engineering, and specific enzyme-catalyzed fusion technologies, precisely addressing the pain point of its “rarity” as a substance.JUYOU Bio-tech has thus become the first company in China to achieve large-scale microbial fermentation production of recombinant mussel adhesive protein. Owing to its potent effects in promoting wound healing, as well as its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, this ingredient has become the brand’s flagship component. Multiple patents are currently pending, and several new flagship products featuring recombinant mussel adhesive protein from JUYOU are set to launch in 2024.

In recent years, the popularization of scientific skincare education and the rise of "ingredient-conscious" consumers have made it increasingly difficult for conventional brand storytelling to resonate with a growingly professional and rational customer base. JUYOU Bio-tech has been collaborating with professional platforms and dermatology experts to consistently convey scientific skincare concepts and practices to end consumers.

In 2021, JUYOU Bio-tech partnered with DXY to conduct a survey and release the *Report on Insights into the Awareness and Management of Skin Barrier Damage*. It also hosted the Skin Barrier Summit, inviting domestic and international experts in dermatology to deliver nationwide lectures and provide continuing education for dermatologists. In 2022, JUYOU Bio-tech collaborated with the Chinese Skin Image Database (CSID) and Umai Doctor, a professional medical platform, to jointly develop the *2022 White Paper on Skin Barrier*, promoting scientific approaches to barrier repair. In 2023, JUYOU Bio-tech worked with DXY and the Chinese Association of Plastics and Aesthetics to launch the *Scientific Guide for Post-Procedure Repair*.

Looking back on its journey, JUYOU Bio-tech has always held deep respect for experts and the medical profession since its inception, consistently adhering to a knowledge-based approach and viewing the market through a scientific lens. On the competitive stage where domestic and international skincare brands vie for prominence, JUYOU Bio-tech has managed to carve out its own niche in the saturated “red ocean” and transform it into a “blue ocean.” This success is largely attributable to its steadfast commitment to its medical identity, its persistence in promoting science-backed skincare concepts, and its strategic brand positioning.

Nowadays, new developers and ingredients for bio-based skincare are continuously emerging in both domestic and international markets, signaling that the efficacy-driven skincare industry has entered a phase of intense competition based on core competencies. As a dedicated professional in this sector, JUYOU Bio-tech, by upholding the integration of medical research collaboration and synthetic biology technology, is poised to achieve greater breakthroughs in this new stage.