QWhat inspired you to create and domesticate Korea's first dental implant?
In the 1990s, the dental implant market was dominated by foreign products, often priced exorbitantly high, making treatments financially burdensome for patients. I envisioned a future where Korean patients could access superior implants at more reasonable prices. Driven by this vision, I left my dental practice and pursued further studies. I invested all my resources into implant technology, developing CAD designs on a 286 computer based on textbook research by esteemed professors. This dedication led to the successful development of Korea's first indigenous implant, Bioplant.
QAfter developing Korea's first domestic implant, you received numerous awards. Which accolade stands out to you the most?
The Fifth Small and Medium Business Technology Innovation Award in 2004 stands out as the most memorable. This honor officially recognized the development of Korea's first dental implant and was personally awarded by the President. This recognition fueled further research, culminating in the development of rhBMP-2 bone graft material. Besides the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, we also received numerous other awards, including the Excellence in Small and Medium Business Award and the Venture Business Award.
QHow was the implant company established?
In 1998, the Asan Medical Foundation became the official manufacturing body for the Bioplant Implant System. In 2000, we rebranded the medical device company to 'CO-WELL' (Cowellmedi) and established it as a corporation. Cowellmedi, founded by passionate customers, has since patented numerous dental implants both domestically and internationally, offering a wide range of products including dental implants, surgical kits, orthodontic tools, and implant accessories.
Our pivotal moment came in 2012 with the launch of the INNO Implant System. In 2010, it became the world's first dental material bone BMP (COWELL BMP) synthesized from E.coli-based rhBMP-2. We host our annual CIC (COWELL International Conference), engaging with dentists worldwide through developments and clinical posters. We also consistently participate in domestic exhibitions such as SIDEX and YEDEX.
QCould you explain 'CowellBMP', an E. coli-derived bone substitute, developed for the first time in the world, one of the representative products along with the INNO Implant?
As a symbol of Cowellmedi, the INNO Implant was designed as an innovation in the implant sector, featuring a design that is beneficial for various clinical cases. The INNO Implant utilizes a special surface treatment technology distinct from other implants, ensuring safety with biocompatible HA treatment for immediate loading and obtaining a strong geometric inter-locking with a high purity surface.
CowellBMP is a bone substitute developed for surgical procedures required in implants. The development of CowellBMP bone substitute began in 2008, with research and clinical trials, and after being approved by the domestic health authorities in 2010, it became the world’s first product to be produced from E. coli. It was developed and tested as a bone substitute based on rhBMP-2. Cowell BMP is effective in quickly and securely forming bone structures when there is a lack of bone density or volume during implant placement.
QThe global dental market is trending toward digital dentistry. How are you preparing for this change?
Cowellmedi is currently developing and selling digital implant kits in the market. We have the Lodestar Kit and the Lodestar Plus Kit, and we collaborate with various labs to create guide templates. For dentists who are new to these systems and have recently opened their practices, we provide hands-on training and clinical education for digital implant procedures through our own training center, REID (Research & Education in Implant Dentistry), targeting both domestic and international dentists and clinical experts. Additionally, we have been supplying CAD/CAM prosthetics for several years and are fully dedicated to finalizing the development of a new concept digital prosthetic that will be launched in the first half of this year.