Exosomes have gained significant popularity in recent years, being hailed as a breakthrough in anti-aging. This substance, frequently promoted in medical aesthetics marketing, is described as a biologically active material secreted during stem cell cultivation. However, within medical and academic circles, the mechanisms of action and clinical testing of exosomes remain unclear, with research still largely confined to theoretical and academic stages.
Despite the lack of scientific consensus, some businesses have identified a commercial opportunity. Numerous promotional videos feature medical aesthetics institutions advocating exosomes for beauty and anti-aging purposes. In contrast to these extravagant claims, many consumers have lodged complaints online regarding "exosome anti-aging" treatments, reporting adverse effects such as severe facial infections and acne.
While companies aggressively market these products, consumers continue to report violations of their rights. In June 2025, the Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration released a draft guideline proposing to regulate exosomes—which function through active ingredients and claim therapeutic effects—as pharmaceutical products. However, this remains only a draft aimed at preventing misuse or improper application. To date, no exosome-based drug has been approved for market sale in China. Despite regulatory boundaries, unapproved "exosome anti-aging" products continue to circulate in the medical aesthetics sector, often at premium prices.
Following consumer tips, investigators identified a popular product named "Qing Cheng," marketed as a "Class II medical device." Authorities have not approved any medical device containing exosomes for sale. Staff from Haolin (Tianjin) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., the manufacturer, openly admitted that the product's primary ingredient is exosomes. To evade regulatory oversight, the company used a collagen product license for certification—a violation that staff did not attempt to conceal.
Haolin (Tianjin) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. sales personnel confirmed that the product is manufactured in-house but uses a collagen certification, as exosomes are not classified under medical device regulations.
Regulators explicitly prohibit the inclusion of exosomes in Class II medical devices, and no such products have been approved—a fact well known to the company. Beyond unauthorized production and sales, some firms engage in false advertising, claiming exosome products can not only reverse aging but also treat various diseases.
Investigators posing as potential partners contacted Yuanchuang Gene Technology Co., Ltd., based in a central Chinese city. A company executive, surnamed Han, showcased a technology exhibition hall and a so-called "laboratory." Han explained that the company's exosome products are categorized by grade, with the lowest grade—purportedly least effective—sold to the aesthetics industry.
Han stated that the company markets exosomes for health conditioning and disease treatment, citing examples of elderly customers seeking treatments based on online promotions. When asked to observe injection procedures, Han declined, citing regulatory risks since the products are unapproved.
Further investigation revealed similar practices at Jiebo Saier Biotechnology Co., Ltd. in a southwestern city. A executive surnamed Tan claimed that their medical-grade exosomes are used for targeted therapies, citing a recent order of 360 units for a child with epilepsy. Tan clarified that the product is the same as that used in aesthetics, only administered differently.
To bolster credibility, Tan displayed vials of "medical-grade exosome frozen solution" from a refrigerator. The packaging bore no product information, clearly marking it as an unregulated "three-no" product—no production license, no quality certification, and no approval code.
Tan admitted the product lacks medical device or cosmetic approvals, framing its sale as a "technical service" to circumvent legal restrictions. The company then escorted investigators to a local hospital, where a patient was receiving an intravenous drip of the unapproved exosome solution.
Tan described the solution as containing 250 billion particles and claimed it could treat conditions including epilepsy, arthritis, and diabetes. However, when asked for clinical data supporting these claims, Tan refused. The company collaborates with medical institutions for injections—a practice known as "borrowing a platform to administer"—charging between 200 and 500 yuan per session for facility use.
Tan detailed a treatment plan costing 60,000 yuan, involving progressively higher doses totaling 600 billion particles. Yang Yue, a researcher at Tsinghua University's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, emphasized that all medical technologies and drugs must undergo rigorous preclinical and clinical studies to verify safety and efficacy. Unapproved products risk causing organ damage or permanent harm to patients.
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