On August 4, 2026, at the 20th Frost & Sullivan Global Growth, Innovation and Leadership Summit and the 5th New Investment Conference held in Shanghai, Frost & Sullivan and Shuyin Zhike jointly released 'The New Era of Precision Gene Skincare Driven by Small Nucleic Acids: White Paper on Application Scenarios of siRNA in Consumer Markets', and provided an interpretation of their key research findings.
"The New Era of Precision Gene Skincare Driven by Small Nucleic Acids: White Paper on Application Scenarios of siRNA in Consumer-Level Fields" systematically studies the development path of siRNA in consumer-level applications such as efficacy skincare, scalp care, and medical aesthetics, from dimensions including technological evolution, consumer demand, application scenarios, raw material development, industrial ecosystem, regulatory environment, and future trends.
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作为该小核酸白皮书的重点研究企业，数因智科是一家聚焦消费级siRNA技术研发与产业转化的科技平台企业。公司以跨学科科研团队为人才基础，依托AI模型与高通量湿实验协同的研发平台，形成覆盖靶点发现、分子设计、实验验证、递送适配及产品转化的研发体系，并围绕美白、抗皱、抗敏、控油等方向持续孵化siRNA功效原料管线。目前，数因智科已有3款siRNA原料上市，抗衰siRNA原料科溯因®、美白siRNA原料科白因®、抗敏siRNA原料科御因®。构建起覆盖广泛、层次多元的品牌合作生态，合作伙伴涵盖国际高端美妆护肤品牌、本土头部护肤品牌及新锐功效护肤品牌，并与多家国内外头部品牌达成战略合作。目前数因智科通过创新siRNA原料输出及独家定制化原料合作等多种形式，加快siRNA技术在多品牌、多功效及多产品形态中的应用，推动前沿核酸技术由科研成果加速转化为消费级产品。
The white paper indicates that at the consumer demand level, skincare products focused on efficacy are shifting from "basic care" to "problem-oriented, evidence-based, and population-specific solutions". Consumers no longer only consider whether a popular ingredient is included, but rather focus more on whether the product has a clear mechanism of action, sufficient evidence of effectiveness, and a solution that better suits their skin conditions. Among them, the Gen Z generation, high-net-worth individuals, and ingredient enthusiasts represent three distinct types of needs: experiencing new technologies, systematic anti-aging, and rational consideration of mechanisms. The Gen Z generation focuses on the understandability of new technologies and content dissemination; high-net-worth individuals prioritize high-end anti-aging, professional backing, and long-term management; while ingredient enthusiasts have upgraded from "looking at ingredient lists" to "examining mechanisms, efficacy data, and safety boundaries".
Under this trend, siRNA provides a new technical approach for functional skincare. Compared to traditional active ingredients, siRNA allows molecular design around specific targets, regulating the expression of target proteins through a clear pathway of "target - mRNA - protein - skin phenotype", driving functional skincare from component combination to target design, mechanism regulation, and systematic validation. The value of siRNA lies not in simply replacing traditional ingredients, but in advancing the development logic of active raw materials from "component addition and final efficacy verification" to "target selection, sequence design, mechanism regulation, and evidence chain verification". By precisely regulating the expression of siRNA-related genes, it enables pre-emptive intervention in skin condition, shifting skincare from "remediation after problems occur" to "prevention + full-cycle management".
Focusing on consumer-level application scenarios, the Small Nucleic Acid White Paper systematically outlines the potential applications of siRNA in precision anti-aging, skin whitening, sensitive skin repair, oil control, hair loss prevention, and medical aesthetics, and specifically analyzes the mechanisms of action for three representative applications: precision anti-aging, skin whitening, and sensitive skin repair. In the precision anti-aging scenario, the anti-aging siRNA ingredient Kexu Yin® can target relevant mRNAs to accelerate the expression of factors responsible for collagen degradation, thereby controlling collagen loss and significantly increasing the content of type I and type III collagen in the skin dermis. In the skin whitening scenario, traditional methods have limitations such as slow effectiveness, the need for tolerance building, or potential darkening after discontinuation. The skin whitening siRNA ingredient Ke Yin® can directly regulate the source by inhibiting the mRNA expression of tyrosinase, thus controlling melanin synthesis at the upstream level. In the sensitive skin repair scenario, the anti-itch siRNA ingredient Yu Yin® targets this key signaling switch in skin sensitivity, reducing sensitive reactions at the source, and effectively decreasing skin redness in just 7 days. Each scenario involves key pathways that can be identified and regulated, providing a foundation for siRNA to evolve from a single ingredient innovation to multi-scenario efficacy solutions.
The application of siRNA in consumer-level scenarios depends not only on target selection and sequence design, but also on skin delivery, which is a critical factor determining the feasibility of productization. Since siRNA molecules naturally struggle to directly penetrate the skin barrier and reach target areas, an appropriate delivery system is required to enhance skin penetration efficiency, cellular uptake levels, and local effectiveness while maintaining activity stability. The Small RNA White Paper indicates that for consumer-level applications such as skincare, scalp care, and medical beauty treatment, skin delivery technology must be tailored to different therapeutic targets, dosage forms, and usage scenarios, ensuring a complete transformation process from nucleic acid molecule design to final product experience. As skin delivery technology, formulation systems, and efficacy validation methods continue to improve, delivery capabilities will become a key technical barrier for RNA therapeutic companies as they move from laboratory validation to brand collaboration and large-scale application.
At the industrial ecosystem level, the Xiaozhenuan White Paper outlined the division of labor in the siRNA cosmetics industry chain: upstream includes nucleic acid raw materials and equipment testing service providers, while midstream companies are mainly siRNA raw material suppliers, responsible for target and sequence design, delivery and formulation conversion, as well as the development and production of active ingredients. The downstream stage involves cosmetic brand owners and OEM/ODM manufacturers who complete the final product transformation. Among these, AI target screening, sequence design, high-throughput validation, and skin delivery capabilities are the core technical barriers that affect the efficiency of raw material development and product conversion levels. As skincare brands continue to pay increasing attention to the mechanism of action and innovation of functional skincare ingredients, the cooperation model between skincare brands and siRNA raw material suppliers has gradually evolved from simple raw material procurement to standardized solutions, joint development, and exclusive customization.
Looking ahead, as molecular design, skin delivery, safety validation, and large-scale production capabilities continue to mature, companies developing small nucleic acid siRNA active ingredients are expected to evolve from individual raw material suppliers into platforms for nucleic acid active substances covering multiple targets, multiple functions, and various scenarios. They will further expand into areas such as personalized precision skincare, comprehensive skin health management, and professional care services. Companies with platform-based R&D capabilities, extensive functional pipelines, and industry collaborative resources will have a greater opportunity to establish long-term technical advantages and accelerate the implementation of siRNA consumer applications.
