Founded in 2015 as the first faculty startup from Yonsei University's Department of Biotechnology, JUVIC was built around a single insight: the most promising active ingredients in dermatology — PDRN, peptides, vaccines, GLP-1 analogs — are routinely limited by the barrier of the stratum corneum. Microneedle technology is their answer. With over 90 patents and a research team led by Prof. Hyung-il Jeong, a globally recognized authority in microneedle science, JUVIC positions itself squarely between the cosmetic patch and the in-clinic procedure.
Proprietary Technology Stack
Three-Part Technology Bundle
JUVIC's competitive moat lies not in a single invention but in the integration of three mutually reinforcing technologies that address the full microneedle manufacturing and delivery chain — from drug loading to skin insertion.
IPS — Innovative Polymer System
Drug Loading Technology
Enables loading of lipophilic (fat-soluble) drugs into the microneedle matrix — previously one of the most significant technical barriers in the field. This dramatically expands the range of applicable molecules, including proteins, peptides, and biologics that conventional aqueous-based systems cannot accommodate.
CL — Centrifugal Lithography
Needle Fabrication Technology
Uses centrifugal force — rather than heat or UV light — to mold microneedle structures. This cold-process approach preserves the bioactivity of heat-sensitive compounds such as proteins, vaccines, and growth factors, which would otherwise denature during conventional fabrication.
IAS — Innovative Application System
Delivery Applicator Technology
An engineered applicator system that ensures complete and reproducible microneedle insertion into the skin upon patch application. Designed to deliver precise, quantified doses of active ingredient — addressing the inconsistency of manual patch pressure that limits earlier-generation products.
Why this matters clinically: The three technologies work as a stack. IPS determines what can be loaded; CL determines how it is manufactured without degradation; IAS determines whether it actually reaches the target tissue at the intended dose. Together, they address the three failure points where most competing microneedle products fall short. JUVIC holds 90+ patents across this stack.
Consumer Beauty Brand
Needeep — Premium Home Aesthetics
JUVIC's commercial entry point is Needeep, a premium home-aesthetic brand that translates clinical-grade microneedle technology into consumer skincare products. The strategic positioning is deliberate: targeting the unmet need between low-penetration cosmetics and high-cost, high-pain clinic procedures.
- Microneedles at 1/5 the diameter of a human hair — creating transient microchannels in the stratum corneum without pain
- Active ingredient penetration reported at 30× greater than conventional topical application
- Current hero product: Renew Star Shot 500 Dual Solution — features PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide) for skin regeneration and anti-inflammatory activity
- Pipeline expansion: collagen, vitamins, NAD⁺ — all actives validated in clinical dermatology settings
- Actively expanding into Japan and China as K-beauty export vehicles
Clinical context: PDRN — derived from salmon DNA — is a well-established regenerative active used in injectable skin boosters and wound healing protocols. Its incorporation into a dissolving microneedle patch represents a meaningful step toward delivering clinical-tier actives in a non-invasive, at-home format. This is the "patch-to-procedure" continuum that JUVIC is actively building.
Pharmaceutical & Medical Pipeline
Beyond Beauty — Medical Applications
JUVIC's longer-term value lies in applying its microneedle platform to pharmaceutical drug delivery — converting injectable therapies into patches and addressing disease areas where needle-free administration would represent a step-change in patient compliance.
Partner: IVI (International Vaccine Institute)
Vaccine Delivery Patches
Patch-format typhoid and influenza vaccines designed for ambient temperature storage and self-administration — eliminating cold chain dependency. Significant implications for low-resource healthcare settings.
Partner: Dong-A ST
Obesity & Diabetes Therapeutics
Converting GLP-1 receptor agonist injectables (semaglutide class) into microneedle patch format. Addresses the compliance burden of daily or weekly self-injections in the fastest-growing drug category globally.
Partner: Yonsei University
Alopecia Areata Treatment
Patch-format treatment for circular hair loss developed in collaboration with Yonsei research team. Enables targeted local drug delivery to the scalp without systemic exposure.
Partner: Yonsei University
Periodontitis Treatment Patch
Microneedle patch for periodontal (gum) disease treatment — delivering anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actives directly to gingival tissue with higher local concentrations than systemic antibiotics.
Partner: Person Healthcare
PN / PDRN New Formulations
Co-developing next-generation polynucleotide (PN) microneedle formulations with optimized skin delivery and stability — targeting the medical aesthetics and regenerative dermatology market.
2027 Target
Clinical Dermatology Devices
Physician-use microneedle treatment devices planned for regulatory approval and clinic launch from 2027 — moving from consumer patches into the professional aesthetic treatment space.
Technology Summary — At a Glance
| Technology | What It Solves | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| IPS (Innovative Polymer System) | Lipophilic drug loading into microneedle matrix | Expands applicable molecule classes to include proteins & biologics |
| CL (Centrifugal Lithography) | Heat-free needle fabrication | Preserves bioactivity of vaccines, peptides & growth factors |
| IAS (Innovative Application System) | Inconsistent manual insertion pressure | Reproducible, quantified transdermal delivery per application |
| Needeep (consumer brand) | Low penetration of standard topicals | 30× greater active delivery vs. conventional cosmetics |