Key Points
- This Korean company began commercializing therapeutic ultrasound for dermatological indications in 2011.
- Learn more about its recent clinical trials in otolaryngology and its plans for 2025 and beyond.
Headquartered in South Korea, KORUST Co., Ltd., is dedicated to research, development, and commercialization of technology in the field of therapeutic ultrasound. The company originally targeted dermatological applications like skin tightening and lifting, but is now exploring the use of focused ultrasound for inferior turbinate reduction and other otolaryngology applications.
Tell us how your company’s name came about.
The KOR comes from Korea, and the UST stands for ultrasound technology.
How was the company started?
In 2011, KORUST began researching the first high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) dermatology application in Korea. The company’s founder, Sung Chan Cho, studied therapeutic ultrasound and developed the first extracorporeal shock wave therapy device in Korea. KORUST commercialized dermatological HIFU for the first time in Korea that same year; since then, it has been continuously applying HIFU technology to various fields.
Tell us about your company structure: ownership, lead executives, and their roles.
KORUST’s founder, Sung Chan Cho, is the company’s largest shareholder. He is also CEO and the head of the Research and Development (R&D) department at KORUST. He leads the planning of technology development within the company.
In general, what is the status of your company?
Since 2011, KORUST has commercialized HIFU products for dermatology, obtaining certifications from the Korean Food and Drug Administration and the European’s Union’s Medical Devices Directive. The company also completed registration in numerous other countries, including Taiwan and Russia. In addition to HIFU, KORUST is continuously developing technologies for low-intensity ultrasound treatment and otolaryngology applications of HIFU. The company holds more than 20 patents related to therapeutic ultrasound and applies for approximately 10 new patents every year.
KORUST’s yearly sales are about $5 million, with an operating profit of more than 30% of its sales. More than a quarter of its yearly sales are invested in technology development. Additionally, KORUST is advancing the development of new technologies through research projects supported by government agencies.
How many years has your treatment platform been in development, and what are its origins? Does it have a name?
UTIMS is the brand name for the dermatologic device (skin lifting and tightening), which was developed and commercialized by KORUST using the variable frequency method. The variable frequency method is a self-developed technology that enables maximum generation of ultrasonic energy according to the characteristics of piezoelectric ceramics.
Through technological development, KORUST has developed products in the field of otolaryngology, and the brand names are RHINOS and RHIFU. Rather than developing products limited to a specific area, KORUST is concentrating its capabilities on developing technologies that can be easily accessed and used by many people.
What are some of the technical challenges your group has had to overcome to develop a fully noninvasive system?
The following are examples of technical challenges that KORUST has successfully overcome in its efforts to develop a fully noninvasive HIFU system:
- Instability in the characteristics of piezoelectric ceramics
- Non-uniform output intensity of concave piezoelectric ceramics
- Technology for maximizing the output intensity of small-area piezoelectric ceramics
- Visualization of thermal distribution characteristics within human tissue
What challenges do you have to tackle moving forward?
For product development in the field of otolaryngology, miniaturization of the HIFU transducer and high-power technology of ultrasound are essential. KORUST has promoted the development of related technologies and has succeeded in reaching a certain size of piezoelectric ceramics, but for better performance, it is necessary to secure miniaturization and high-power ceramics through additional technology development.
Tell us about your clinical studies and the results.
The dermatology product has been continuously sold since 2012 and is being used in clinical settings after obtaining official approval.
We also conducted an exploratory clinical study involving 14 subjects for inferior turbinate reduction that demonstrated the product’s safety and efficacy, showing that its performance was not inferior to that of the Coblator (a surgical tool that uses radiofrequency energy and saline to remove tissue). Recently, a clinical trial involving 59 subjects was conducted for this indication to obtain regulatory approval.
What are the benefits of your technology over companies?
KORUST specializes in developing technologies that can be used in clinics, focusing on systems that are accessible to a larger number of patients and convenient to use, rather than relatively complex systems with limited patient applicability. In line with this approach, products such as HIFU for dermatology and devices for inferior turbinate reduction surgery have been developed to be affordable and easy to use, significantly enhancing patient accessibility.
Have you learned any lessons for watching the experience of the other companies?
HIFU technology can be used in various clinical fields. However, long-term technology investment and continuous R&D are required to secure clinical safety and efficacy, which could take a long time and should be prepared step by step. Companies in the HIFU field are securing know-how and technological competitiveness by continuously investing in long-term technology development in a specific field. KORUST also plans to follow this model, investing in technology development without rushing into the HIFU field. From this perspective, KORUST has recently embarked on developing focused ultrasound products for liver cancer treatment, with plans to continue this development over the next seven years.
Do you partner with other companies?
While it has not established collaborative relationships with other companies, KORUST is conducting clinical trials in partnership with Seoul National University Hospital, Korea University Hospital, and Dankook University Hospital. Additionally, it is working on developing focused ultrasound technology for liver cancer treatment in collaboration with the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Dankook University, and the Korea Testing Laboratory. Furthermore, it is developing focused ultrasound technology for prostate treatment in partnership with Jeju National University.
Is your system approved for commercial use in any markets? If so, how is it being used in these markets?
Products approved for commercial use by KORUST are HIFU products for dermatology and low-intensity ultrasound for dermatology. Currently, efforts are being made to develop and commercialize products in the field of otolaryngology. Products in the otolaryngology area are applied to reduce inferior turbinate hypertrophy and soft palate and tonsil tissue.
Is there anything else we should know about your company?
KORUST is a company that developed the first product in Korea to apply HIFU technology to dermatology. Rather than focusing on expanding product sales, the company actively invests in advancing HIFU technology and developing its applications in new clinical fields. Through these efforts, KORUST is working on developing and commercializing technologies that can be applied in areas such as otolaryngology and urology.