Mid-2025 saw Giant Biogene thrust into the spotlight due to a significant industry-level controversy with Bloomage BioTechnology. This dispute centered not only on competing claims regarding the authority of recombinant collagen versus hyaluronic acid as key ingredients but also entangled Giant Biogene in allegations that its core brand, "CureMed," had misrepresented collagen content levels. Although the situation concluded with the explanation that differing testing standards led to varying results, it still negatively impacted the company's performance. Combined with increasingly fierce industry competition, Giant Biogene reported a 2025 financial performance with declines in both revenue and profit. Revenue reached 5.518 billion yuan, a slight decrease of 0.37% year-on-year, while net profit was 1.914 billion yuan, down 7.15% compared to the previous year.
A clear divergence emerged within the company's core brand portfolio in 2025. As the primary contributor, accounting for over 80% of revenue, the CureMed brand achieved sales of 4.47 billion yuan, representing a 1.6% decline. The financial report attributed this mainly to external market shocks and intensified price competition within the industry. Considering the mid-2025 controversy, questions regarding the accuracy of CureMed's product claims appear to have eroded consumer trust, delivering a tangible blow to sales of this flagship brand. In contrast, the skincare brand "Crowning" maintained growth momentum, recording revenue of 918 million yuan for 2025, a 9.2% year-on-year increase. This growth was primarily driven by aggressive expansion into online channels and the successful launch of the upgraded star product, "King Mask 3.0."
Following the challenges of 2025, Giant Biogene has explicitly stated its goal to "return to growth in 2026." Strategic plans outlined in the financial report indicate that future growth will focus on several key areas: bolstering its aesthetic medicine business, broadening applications for new ingredients beyond collagen, incubating new brands, and expanding its omnichannel presence. The most notable initiative may be its push into aesthetic medicine. Since 2025, Giant Biogene has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration for its recombinant type I a1 collagen lyophilized fiber and recombinant type I a1 collagen with sodium hyaluronate complex solution, marking its official entry into the aesthetic medicine market.
The 2025 "Hyaluronic Acid-Collagen Battle" was more than a public relations crisis; it served as an industry rite of passage, exposing weaknesses in Giant Biogene's rapid expansion and compelling the company to strengthen its product standards and compliance. In 2026, the market is watching closely to see if Giant Biogene, now holding Class III medical device approvals as a strategic asset, can leverage the aesthetic medicine sector to stage a successful comeback and re-establish its high-growth trajectory.
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