Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- Aekyung Industry, a household and personal care product maker in South Korea, secured state approval for its peptide biomaterial that could be used to produce functional cosmetics with an effect of improving wrinkles.

Aekyung Industry said Tuesday that its peptide biomaterial called "AK AW-PEP 2" has been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as an ingredient for functional cosmetics. Peptides, which are short chains of amino acids, are easily decomposed by protease in human applications. Aekyung solved this problem by introducing natural antioxidants.

Aekyung Industry has partnered with AnyGen, a bio-venture company, to develop AK AW-PEP 2, which promotes the production of collagen on the skin and inhibiting the activity of collagen breakdown elements. The company has expanded its cosmetics business, led by Age 20's, a brand targeting women in their 30s and 40s.