THE WHAT? L’Oréal has expanded its research partnership with South Korean biotechnology company OliX, extending their collaboration to include RNA interference (RNAi)-based innovations for nail health alongside skin and hair applications.
THE DETAILS The new agreement builds on a collaboration launched in 2025, which focused on small interfering RNA (siRNA) technologies for skin and hair regeneration and ageing. Under the expanded partnership, the companies will jointly discover and develop next-generation cosmetic solutions targeting hair, skin and nail health. L’Oréal will contribute scientific expertise and research funding, while OliX will lead candidate discovery, research and development, and programme management. The agreement also allows multiple research programmes to run simultaneously. The announcement follows a recent investment by L’Oréal’s venture capital fund BOLD, which participated in a KRW110 billion funding round for OliX with an investment of KRW10.5 billion.
THE WHY? The expanded collaboration reinforces L’Oréal’s strategy of investing in advanced biotechnology platforms to develop next-generation beauty innovations. It also broadens the company’s research into nail health, an emerging category alongside skin and hair care, while strengthening its relationship with OliX following BOLD’s recent investment.
Source: Seoul Economic Daily
