Key Points
- Initial Controversy: “Damouth Doctor” (郝宇 Hao Yu) alleged that 巨子生物’s 可复美 recombinant collagen product contained significantly less collagen than expected based on ingredient lists, showing total amino acids hydrolyzing from collagen at only 0.0177%.
- 巨子生物 Responds: 巨子生物’s 可复美 brand initially issued a strong denial of fabrication claims and later stated they accepted an apology from the testing agency used by “Damouth Doctor” (郝宇 Hao Yu), while also vowing legal action against slanderers.
- 华熙生物 Backs Critic: Hours before 巨子生物’s apology statement, A-share giant 华熙生物 (Bloomage Biotech), a leader in hyaluronic acid, published a lengthy statement offering full support and legal protection to “Damouth Doctor” (郝宇 Hao Yu), revealing they also conducted independent tests.
- Industry Rivalry Highlighted: The dispute reflects the intense competition between the hyaluronic acid (華熙生物) and recombinant collagen (巨子生物) sectors in China, with 華熙生物 criticizing capital market narratives and brokerage reports that favor recombinant collagen.
- High Stakes: The conflict involves major players in China’s beauty-tech bio-ingredient market and could impact consumer trust, investor confidence, and potentially lead to regulatory scrutiny.
The drama surrounding Juzi Shengwu (巨子生物) and its popular Kefumei (可复美) recombinant collagen products is far from over, with new statements fueling the fire in this rapidly evolving beauty tech saga.
It’s a story of accusations, counter-accusions, and high-stakes competition in China’s booming bio-tech and skincare market.
Let’s break down what’s happening.
Juzi Bio’s Late-Night Statement: Apology Accepted, Legal Threats Made
- Accepted apology from the testing agency used by “Damouth Doctor” (郝宇 Hao Yu) received on May 30th.
- Agency stated they disapproved of “Damouth Doctor’s” actions and never authorized his use of the report.
- Agency demanded “Damouth Doctor” cease using/forwarding the “Test Report”.
- Juzi Bio stated they will pursue legal action against slanderers.
In a late-night announcement on June 1st, at 10:32 PM, Juzi Shengwu’s (巨子生物) Kefumei (可复美) brand dropped a bombshell on its official WeChat account.
The statement, titled “Juzi Accepts Apology from the Testing Agency Used by ‘Damouth Doctor’ (郝宇 Hao Yu), But Will Pursue Legal Action Against Slanderers,” directly addressed the ongoing controversy.
Here’s the skinny:
- Kefumei claims that on May 30th, at 8:30 PM, they received an apology from the testing agency utilized by “Damouth Doctor” (郝宇 Hao Yu).
- The agency allegedly stated, “Our company not only disapproves of this action but has also never issued any form of authorization.“
- Furthermore, the agency reportedly demanded that “Damouth Doctor” (郝宇 Hao Yu) “immediately cease using and forwarding this ‘Test Report’ to avoid more serious public misunderstanding.“
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Image Source: Kefumei (可复美) Official WeChat Account
This move by Juzi Bio signals they feel somewhat vindicated but are ready to go on the offensive against what they deem as slander.
Enter Bloomage Biotech: A Hyaluronic Acid Giant Backs “Damouth Doctor”
But hold on, the plot thickens!
Just hours before Juzi Bio’s announcement, on June 1st at 7:30 PM, A-share listed hyaluronic acid behemoth Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) published an extensive 2,700-word statement.
They threw their full support behind Dr. Hao Yu (郝宇), known online as “Damouth Doctor.”
Bloomage Biotech stated that Shanghai Liuye Medical Innovation Technology Service Co., Ltd. (上海柳页医创医疗科技服务有限公司), where Hao Yu (郝宇) is the legal representative, is a key part of the Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) ecosystem.
Naturally, Bloomage is offering “firm support and legal protection.”
Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) didn’t stop there. They revealed:
- They’ve had experts evaluate Hao Yu’s (郝宇) materials.
- They’ve conducted repeated tests using multiple methods.
- They’ve also secured testing results from a third-party organization.
Their message to Juzi Bio was pointed: “We hope relevant companies proactively address issues in their development and honestly confront the public’s concerns about product integrity and value promises; if relevant companies cannot face their own issues, our company will publicly reveal the relevant testing results to the entire society.“
Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) defended Hao Yu’s (郝宇) methods as “scientific and professional” aimed at protecting consumer safety.
They also highlighted that Hao Yu (郝宇) has faced cyberbullying and harassment from online trolls.
“The safety and prosperity of an industry require the participation of testing agencies, professionals, media, and other ecosystem partners,” Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) asserted.
They’ve invited industry players to participate in cross-verification and urged testing agencies to uphold professional responsibility.
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Image Source: Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) Official WeChat Account
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The Spark: “Damouth Doctor’s” Initial Allegations About Kefumei Collagen
So, what kicked off this whole firestorm?
On May 24, the WeChat official account “Damouth Doctor’s Research Institute” published a provocative article: “Juzi Bio Suspected of Serious Fabrication?! Recombinant Collagen Can’t Be Detected For Collagen!“
The core of the allegation from “Damouth Doctor’s Research Institute” was a direct challenge to the ingredients in the “Kefumei Collagen Stick” (specifically, “Kefumei (可复美) Recombinant Collagen Skin Defense Repair Single-Use Essence”).
They questioned whether the product actually contained the core collagen amino acid component, glycine.
“Damouth Doctor” explained their methodology:
- They used the high-precision HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) amino acid quantification method, described as an international standard.
- To avoid interference, 18 amino acid internal standards were added for precise calibration.
Image Source: “Damouth Doctor’s Research Institute” WeChat Official Account
The blogger claimed that “recombinant collagen” (listed as “soluble collagen” in Kefumei’s (可复美) formula) was supposedly present at over 0.1%.
However, their tests allegedly found the total amino acid content hydrolyzing from “recombinant collagen” was only 0.0177%.
This implies the actual “recombinant collagen” content was less than two ten-thousandths – a tiny fraction of what might be expected.
Image Source: “Damouth Doctor’s Research Institute” WeChat Official Account
Juzi Bio’s Initial Rebuttal: “No Fabrication”
Juzi Shengwu (巨子生物) didn’t take these accusations lightly.
Late on May 24, its Kefumei (可复美) brand issued a strong rebuttal to consumers.
Image Source: Kefumei (可复美) Official WeChat Account
They “strongly refuted and firmly denied” claims like “Juzi Bio (巨子生物) suspected of serious fabrication” and “recombinant collagen undetectable.“
Their defense: “All listed products undergo a triple verification system including raw material inspection, production process quality control, and finished product quality testing, ensuring product quality is safe and reliable, and there is no ingredient fabrication or concealment.”
For context, Juzi Shengwu (巨子生物), founded in 2000, positions itself as a leader in China’s professional skincare industry based on bioactive ingredients, focusing on functional skincare, medical devices, and functional foods.
The Bigger Picture: Bloomage Biotech vs. Juzi Bio – Hyaluronic Acid vs. Recombinant Collagen
This isn’t just about one product test; it’s a reflection of a deeper rivalry in the lucrative Chinese beauty-tech space.
Interestingly, on May 17, well before “Damouth Doctor’s” post, Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) published an article titled “Concepts Repeat, Technology Advances.“
In it, they criticized the “hyaluronic acid outdated” theory and took aim at brokerage research reports seemingly favoring recombinant collagen.
Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) pointed out that since 2022, as capital markets sought new themes, “the recombinant collagen concept seems to have been fortuitously chosen.“
They argued that numerous “comparative studies” were designed to make the recombinant collagen industry appear larger than the hyaluronic acid sector, often targeting China’s hyaluronic acid industry and, by implication, Juzi Shengwu (巨子生物) as a key collagen player.
Image Source: Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) Official WeChat Account Screenshot
Juzi Shengwu (巨子生物) proudly claims global leadership in recombinant collagen, with Dr. Fan Daidi (范代娣) and her team developing the technology in 2000.
Compare this with hyaluronic acid, whose industrialization began earlier. Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) itself, with its chief scientist Dr. Guo Xueping (郭学平), began the industrialization of hyaluronic acid in 2000 through microbial fermentation technology.
The numbers speak volumes: According to Frost & Sullivan (June 2022), China’s hyaluronic acid raw material sales were 82.0% of the global total in 2021.
And Bloomage Biotech’s (Hua xi Shengwu 华熙生物) sales alone accounted for 44% globally in 2021.
Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) lamented that hyaluronic acid, a substance “evolved over hundreds of millions of years,” has faced “lies and defamation” in recent years, being unfairly labeled “outdated” or less safe/bioactive than “a certain substance” – clearly pointing to recombinant collagen.
Capital Markets and Analyst Reports Fueling the Fire
Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) explicitly called out research reports from nine brokerage firms, including Huatai Securities (Huatai Zhengquan 华泰证券), Anxin Securities (Anxin Zhengquan 安信证券), and Guojin Securities (Guojin Zhengquan 国金证券).
Many of these reports discussed differences between hyaluronic acid and recombinant collagen, often favoring the latter and mentioning Juzi Shengwu (巨子生物).
For instance, a Huatai Securities (Huatai Zhengquan 华泰证券) report noted: “Compared to the potential risk of ‘swollen face’ [due to potential residual cross-linking agents] with hyaluronic acid, recombinant collagen has relative advantages in terms of safety, among other aspects.“
Image Source: Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) Official WeChat Account Screenshot
Bloomage argued these “misleading conclusions” contributed to the “hyaluronic acid outdated” narrative, damaging a key Chinese industry.
Attempts to reach authors of these reports, like Lin Huanyu (林寰宇) and Sun Danyuan (孙丹阳) from Huatai Securities (Huatai Zhengquan 华泰证券), for comments were largely unsuccessful, with one author having left and the other’s phone unanswered.
An unnamed capital market insider offered a more neutral perspective to National Business Daily (每日经济新闻):
Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) and Juzi Shengwu (巨子生物) represent two distinct technical directions – hyaluronic acid and recombinant collagen.
Currently, there’s no definitive official conclusion on which is superior.
The buzz around recombinant collagen also reflects the capital market’s tendency to “seek novelty.”
What’s Next in the Kefumei Collagen Saga?
This complex dispute between Juzi Bio (巨子生物) and critics, now openly backed by competitor Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物), is far from settled.
Key things to watch:
- Will Juzi Bio (巨子生物) indeed pursue legal action against “slanderers”?
- Will Bloomage Biotech (Huaxi Shengwu 华熙生物) publicly release their own testing data on Kefumei (可复美) products?
- How will consumers and investors react to these conflicting narratives?
- Will regulatory bodies step in to clarify testing standards or product claims for recombinant collagen?
The battle over recombinant collagen ingredients and efficacy is heating up, and it highlights the fierce competition and high stakes in China’s rapidly innovating, and incredibly valuable, beauty and bio-technology sectors. For investors and industry watchers, understanding the nuances of the Juzi Bio Kefumei collagen controversy offers critical insights into market dynamics.
References
- Late Night, Juzi Bio Issues Sudden Statement: Accepts Apology From Testing Agency, Will Pursue Legal Action Against Slanderers! Previously, A-share Hyaluronic Acid Giant Personally ‘Entered the Fray’ to Support ‘Damouth Doctor’ – National Business Daily
- National Business Daily – Homepage
- Kefumei Official Website – Kefumei
- Bloomage Biotech Official Website – Bloomage Biotech
