KOSE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Kazutoshi Kobayashi) has decided to participate as a secretary in the “RNA Co-Creation Consortium,” which was jointly established by Kao Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yoshihiro Hasebe) and iStyle Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Mune Endo) on 2024/3/11. This is an initiative aimed at business co-creation centered on Kao's “sebum RNA monitoring*1” technology, and in the future, we will continue to investigate, starting with participation in demonstration experiments, and proceed with the development of solutions that can enhance well-being based on the knowledge obtained.
*1 June 4, 2019 Kao News Release
Discovered the presence of human RNA in sebum and developed a unique analysis technology “RNA Monitoring (RNA monitoring)”
Kao Co., Ltd. and iStyle Co., Ltd. co-founded the “RNA Co-Creation Consortium” on 2024/3/11 with the aim of co-creating a business centered on “sebum RNA monitoring” technology for the sound development of the beauty and health industry. As partners that utilize RNA technology, we include Matsukiyokokokara & Company Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President: Kiyoo Matsumoto), Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Yoshinori Isozaki), Perfect Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Junshin Isozaki); Healthcare Systems Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Showa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi; President and CEO: Takimoto We will participate as a secretary company together with companies such as (Yosuke).
KOSÉ aims for “value to be provided in the wellness area that includes not only beauty but also the health/Cure area” in its medium- to long-term management vision VISION 2026, and we focused on this technology, which has the potential to reflect changes in physical and skin conditions. This time, by participating in a consortium where multiple companies gather, we will expand the scale of technology application and business development, and play a part in realizing this vision. In the future, we will continue to conduct research, starting with demonstration experiments conducted by consortiums, and proceed with the development of solutions that can enhance well-being based on the knowledge obtained.
*The following is an overview of the consortium, and is the same as the content published by Kao Co., Ltd. and others on the same day.
1. backgrounds
In what is said to be the age of 100 years of life, the need to live a healthy and comfortable life is growing, and the market is overflowing with services and information related to health and beauty for that purpose, but on the other hand, there are many consumers who are worried because they don't know “what suits them” due to so many options. In response to this historical background, there is a growing trend in the beauty and health industry that consumers correctly know their current state and need “standards to determine what is most necessary for the form they are aiming for” from among many options.
Meanwhile, companies are required to provide products and services that take diversity into consideration and to engage in economic activities from an ESG (environmental, social, governance) perspective. I believe that each company providing services will make proposals so that the shortest and most optimal choice can be made from a wide variety of options, leading to the creation of a new market that does not put a burden on the environment or people.
2. About “sebum RNA monitoring” technology
“Sebum RNA monitoring” is Kao's unique analysis technology that collects facial sebum with an oil removal film, extracts RNA from that sebum, and comprehensively analyzes it (Figure 1). Whereas DNA is information unique to that person that does not change throughout life, RNA changes daily depending on environmental factors such as physical condition, eating habits, exercise, stress, and ultraviolet rays, so it can be said that it is useful for knowing the condition of the skin and body at that time. Until now, Kao has reported as research results that sebum RNA can be used to infer various conditions of the body and skin, and that there is a possibility that infant atopic dermatitis and Parkinson's disease can be identified at an early stage.
3. Initiatives between Kao and iStyle, which is the starting point for establishing the consortium
Since 2022, Kao and iStyle have been proceeding with joint efforts to collect sebum RNA from members who have obtained consent on the “@cosme” site operated by iStyle, group people with similar sebum RNA characteristics, and analyze trends in selected cosmetics *1.
Kao is investigating this grouping and has reported that there are two skin types based on the similarity of RNA expression*2. Furthermore, based on sebum RNA and image information obtained through joint efforts between the two companies, Kao has also developed a technology to identify skin type classifications (skin gene modes) from facial photographs that until now could not be analyzed without directly collecting sebum from the face.
*2 2022/3/7 Kao News Release
Kao and iStyle applied sebum RNA monitoring technology to create encounters with cosmetics suitable for one's skin and begin joint efforts aimed at customer satisfaction and product waste reduction from spring 2022
2022/3/7 iStyle News Release
Apply iStyle and Kao sebum RNA monitoring technology to create encounters with cosmetics suitable for one's skin and begin joint efforts aimed at customer satisfaction and product waste reduction from spring 2022
*3 2024/2/19 Kao News Release
Development of skin type classification using sebum RNA Discovered that there are two skin types with different gene expression (RNA) characteristics
4. Purpose and activities of establishing the “RNA Co-Creation Consortium”
Through such efforts by Kao and iStyle so far, it has been discovered that RNA information is useful as a standard for product selection. Therefore, the two companies will launch an “RNA Co-Creation Consortium” with the aim of co-creating businesses with various companies centered on “sebum RNA monitoring” technology.
This consortium will promote activities such as establishing new standards for “making,” “selling,” and “selecting” beauty and health services, demonstrating business use cases, and supporting business collaboration. As care and services based on RNA information penetrate society, it is expected that consumers will be able to select products with an even higher level of satisfaction, and at the same time, companies in various fields, including beauty and healthcare, will propose new solutions to respond to consumer concerns and promote innovation in product development and service development.
In order to tackle these issues across the beauty and health industry, we are looking for participating companies from a wide range of industries such as beauty, health, and food in the future. Furthermore, by fusing data and research knowledge held by each company to promote solutions to customer and industry issues and create new value, we will realize the sustainable development of the industry.
Figure 2. Images of activities at each touch point based on the “RNA Co-Creation Consortium”
5. Overview of the “RNA Co-Creation Consortium”
● Official name RNA Co-Creation Consortium (RNA Co-creation Consortium)
● Official site https://www.rna-co-creation.jp
● Board Companies (Steering Committee)
Kao Co., Ltd. https://www.kao.com/jp/
iStyle Co., Ltd. https://www.istyle.co.jp/
● Participating companies (secretaries)
KOSE Co., Ltd. https://corp.kose.co.jp/
Matsukiyokokokara & Co., Ltd. https://www.matsukiyococokara.com/
Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. https://www.kirinholdings.com/
Perfect Co., Ltd. https://www.perfectcorp.com/ja/
Healthcare Systems Co., Ltd. https://hc-sys.com/
● Activities
1. Support and promotion of business demonstration experiments utilizing “sebum RNA monitoring” technology (demonstration activities)
・Design and verification of new solutions to meet consumer concerns
・Promoting innovation in product development and service development in the beauty and healthcare fields
・Utilization of consumer data based on data protection and strict policies
2. Business matching and collaboration support within and outside the “RNA Co-Creation Consortium”
・Dissemination of demonstration test results obtained through consortiums to society
・Social implementation support for results obtained in demonstration experiments
3. Setting strict policies on data protection and privacy with respect to RNA