Rejuran

What it is

Rejuran is an injectable medical device containing polynucleotides (PN), short chains of DNA nucleotides derived from the gonads of Pacific salmon. In Korea it is classified as a medical device, not a pharmaceutical or traditional dermal filler. The product does not add volume or reshape the face. Instead, the injected polynucleotides act as a substrate the body uses to repair and remodel skin from within.

It was developed by PharmaResearch, a Korean biotech company founded in 1993, whose core technology platform is built around polynucleotide and polydeoxyribonucleotide extraction and purification. The original Rejuran Healer was released in 2014 and is one of the first polynucleotide-based skin boosters to reach widespread clinical use.

How it works

Polynucleotides injected into the dermis are metabolized into shorter nucleotide fragments that signal to surrounding tissue through two pathways. The primary pathway is activation of adenosine A2A receptors, which triggers an intracellular cascade (adenylate cyclase, cyclic AMP, protein kinase A) that promotes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin. These drive angiogenesis and improve local blood supply.

The secondary pathway is nucleotide salvage. The injected fragments are recycled into the body's own DNA synthesis, supporting fibroblast proliferation and the production of new collagen and extracellular matrix.

The net clinical effect develops over weeks to months after a treatment course: gradual improvement in skin elasticity, texture, and dermal thickness.

Origin

Rejuran Healer launched in South Korea in 2014 through PharmaResearch. The polynucleotide platform was originally developed for wound healing and tissue regeneration before being adapted for aesthetic use.

PharmaResearch has since expanded the line and received additional MFDS approvals, including Rejuran HB Plus in 2021, which is indicated specifically for crow's feet wrinkles and adds hyaluronic acid and lidocaine to the base polynucleotide formula. As of 2025 the product has been exported to markets across Asia, and PharmaResearch announced a Brazilian supply agreement in early 2025.

Regulatory status

Because Rejuran is classified as a medical device in Korea rather than a pharmaceutical, its approval pathway is distinct from drug approvals. This classification shapes how the product is regulated in other markets.

Typical protocol

Based on a 2024 practice-pattern survey of 235 Korean board-certified dermatologists published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, the following is representative clinical practice:

• Sessions: 3 per course, most commonly
• Interval: 4 weeks between sessions
• Maintenance: every 4 to 6 months
• Needle: 33 gauge
• Technique: serial puncture, targeting the dermis
• Anesthesia: topical numbing cream; the HB and HB Plus variants include lidocaine in the formulation
• Downtime: typically 1 to 3 days of localized redness and swelling, with transient visible bumps at injection sites
• Combination treatments: 79 percent of the dermatologists surveyed combine PN injection with laser, radiofrequency, or high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as part of the same treatment cycle

The injection targets the dermis directly rather than the deeper subcutaneous layer. This distinguishes Rejuran from volumizing hyaluronic acid fillers, which are placed deeper and serve a different purpose.

Variants

The variants are not interchangeable. Which one a clinician selects depends on the indication, anatomical area, and skin condition.

Commonly reported effects

Published clinical evidence for Rejuran and polynucleotide skin boosters includes the following. The cited studies are representative, not exhaustive.

• Wrinkle depth and duration of effect. A Phase III randomized double-blind trial (Pak et al., 2014) compared PN filler to hyaluronic acid filler for crow's feet and reported longer duration of action and greater efficacy at 12 months in the PN arm.
• Texture and elasticity. A periocular split-face study (Lee et al.) reported greater reduction in wrinkle depth and improvement in skin texture with PN compared to HA.
• Collagen and dermal structure. Reported Phase III data on Rejuran specifically shows improvements in skin elasticity, collagen composition, and surface roughness in the active arm.
• Safety profile. Across the reviewed studies, no serious adverse events were reported. Common minor effects were temporary redness, swelling, and injection-site tenderness that resolved within days.

Academic reviewers of the polynucleotide literature consistently note that the evidence base is drawn from small trials and observational cohorts with heterogeneous protocols, and they call for larger standardized randomized controlled trials. The body of evidence is supportive rather than definitive.

Korea vs US availability

Rejuran is widely available in Korea across general dermatology clinics, specialized aesthetic clinics, and plastic surgery hospitals. A 2023 survey of 50 Korean clinics reported an average price of approximately ₩450,000 (roughly $330 USD at current exchange) for a full-face Rejuran Healer treatment. Reported per-session ranges:

• General dermatology clinics: ₩200,000 to ₩400,000 per session
• Specialized aesthetic clinics in Gangnam: ₩500,000 to ₩800,000 per session
• Plastic surgery hospitals: ₩600,000 to ₩1,000,000 per session

A typical 3-session course at a mid-tier Gangnam clinic therefore runs roughly $1,100 to $1,800 USD at reported 2025 rates.

In the United States, Rejuran is not FDA-approved for injection. Where the product appears in US clinics, it is typically imported and used off-label, or replaced with the topical Healing Essence applied after microneedling. US clinic pricing for Rejuran is inconsistent and often bundled into other treatments, so direct US-versus-Korea cost comparison is not clean.

What to research before

Before booking Rejuran or any polynucleotide skin booster in Korea:

• Verify the clinic is licensed and the injector is a qualified physician. Our credential verification guide covers the KSPRS and specialty registries.
• Confirm which variant is being used and why. The four Rejuran variants serve different indications. Ask for the product name at the consultation and the rationale for that specific variant.
• Check product authenticity. The Philippines FDA has issued advisories on counterfeit polynucleotide products. Ask to see the original packaging at the appointment.
• Understand what Rejuran does and does not do. It does not add volume or lift tissue. Clinics that market it as a substitute for surgery are misrepresenting the product.
• See also: our Korean Surgery Safety Guide and red flags guide.

Related procedures

• Juvelook — Korean biostimulator combining poly-D,L-lactic acid with hyaluronic acid
• Skin boosters — umbrella category for hydration and regenerative injectables
• Exosomes — cell-free nano-vesicle regenerative injectable
• Profhilo — hyaluronic acid bio-remodeling injectable (European, also marketed in Korea)

Sources

1. Rho NK, Han KH, Cho M, Kim HS. A survey on the cosmetic use of injectable polynucleotide: the pattern of practice among Korean Dermatologists. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2024;23:1243–1252. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.16125
2. Polynucleotides in Aesthetic Medicine: A Review of Current Practices and Perceived Effectiveness. Int J Mol Sci 2024;25(15):8224. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11311621/
3. Pak CS, Lee YK, Jeong HS, Kim JH, Seo JD, Heo CY. A phase III, randomized, double-blind, matched-pairs, active-controlled clinical trial and preclinical animal study to compare the durability, efficacy and safety between polynucleotide filler and hyaluronic acid filler in the correction of crow's feet. PubMed, 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25473210/
4. Korea Biomedical Review: PharmaResearch wins regulatory nod for upgraded Rejuran HB skin booster. 2021. https://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=11811
5. Comparison of Polynucleotide and Polydeoxyribonucleotide in Dermatology: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Perspectives. PMC, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12388916/
6. PharmaResearch: Supply Agreement for Rejuran in Brazil (via BioSpace). 2025. https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/pharmaresearch-announces-supply-agreement-for-rejuran-in-brazil