CHANDO Presents Decade-Long Skin Brightening Research at IMCAS

Research Introduces 577 Epigenetic Mechanism for Asian Skin

SHANGHAI, Feb. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The IMCAS World Congress 2026, an internationally recognized forum for aesthetic medicine and clinical research, opened on January 31 in Paris. As a global platform supporting collaboration in dermatology, plastic surgery, and aging science, IMCAS facilitates the exchange of interdisciplinary research and clinical best practices. This year, Chinese skincare brand CHANDO participated in the congress by presenting a long-term research outcome: the identification of a novel epigenetic pathway for skin brightening, termed the 4-Butylresorcinol (577) Pigment Management Mechanism. The research presentation reflects the continued engagement of Chinese industry and research organizations in international scientific dialogue on precision skincare.

Global Forum for Scientific Exchange: CHANDO Research Presented at IMCAS

The IMCAS World Congress serves as a professional convening platform for plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aesthetic practitioners, supporting the dissemination of medical research and clinical innovation at an international level. The event is designed to encourage professional exchange, continuing education, and the sharing of evidence-based technologies across disciplines.

At this year's congress, which hosted 225 scientific sessions and attracted 21,764 professionals, CHANDO's research was reviewed through the IMCAS scientific evaluation process. Selected for a keynote presentation in the main forum, CHANDO skin research scientist Dr. Youssef introduced the study titled "Epigenetic Skincare: A Novel Root-Cause Brightening Mechanism of 4-Butylresorcinol (577) via microRNA Regulation in Asian Populations." The presentation outlined the company's long-term research approach to the epigenetic factors influencing skin pigmentation in Asian populations.

Decoding the Biology of Asian Skin: A Targeted Research Approach to Brightening

CHANDO's research focused on three persistent challenges identified through long-term observation of Asian skin characteristics: stubborn dark spots, susceptibility to sallowness, and a fragile barrier that often leads to rebound darkening. While conventional brightening ingredients tend to take a generalized approach, CHANDO directed its research toward underlying biological mechanisms, studying how environmental factors like UV exposure influence gene expression. In his address, Dr. Youssef explained that since 2014, CHANDO has employed high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics to analyze Asian skin. The team pinpointed a specific microRNA that plays a central role in UV-induced pigmentation by regulating three key enzymes (MITF, TYR, TYRP1) involved in melanin production.

The pivotal finding: CHANDO's signature ingredient, 4-Butylresorcinol (577), was shown in laboratory and clinical testing to inhibit this microRNA's abnormal expression, curbing melanin overproduction at its source. This mechanism differentiates 577 from conventional brightening approaches and provides a targeted strategy relevant to post-sun or post-procedure pigmentation management in Asian skin. Notably, the ingredient also demonstrated high tolerability in clinical testing, making it suitable for sensitive skin types prone to irritation. It effectively reduced dark spots and sallowness while minimizing common side effects like redness or rebound pigmentation.[1]

This recognition follows CHANDO's earlier designation as the "Global 577 Brightening Leader" by Shangpu Group, an independent research organization, based on the ingredient's technological innovation and commercial impact.[2] The IMCAS presentation represents an additional instance of consumer-facing research from China contributing to international scientific exchange.

A Decade of Science-Based Research for Asian Skin

For over ten years, CHANDO has invested in foundational research focused on the physiological characteristics of Asian skin. The 577 compound represents more than a functional ingredient—it reflects an applied research outcome derived from epigenetic study and skin biology. Today, 577 is integrated into CHANDO's Cellcrystal Whitening Radiance Series, demonstrating how laboratory research has been translated into consumer skincare applications designed for pigment management at the biological source.

Looking ahead, CHANDO has indicated its intention to continue participating in skin science research, with the goal of supporting clinically evaluated skincare development and ongoing international collaboration.

Notes:

[1] Data from third-party testing. Among 32 subjects aged 18–60 using the Cellcrystal Whitening Radiance Rejuvenating Serum for 4 weeks, instrumental measurement showed a 21.47% reduction in skin melanin and a 34.92% improvement in brightness. Results may vary individually.
[2] Shangpu Group's research, finalized April 2025, compared global market performance of 577-based facial brightening products (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2024). CHANDO was recognized as the Global 577 Brightening Leader based on market presence, technology, and product influence. 

 

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CHANDO Presents Decade-Long Skin Brightening Research at IMCAS

HANGZHOU, China, April 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A team led by principal investigators Bobo Dang and Ting Zhou at Westlake University/Westlake Laboratory reported in Science a high-throughput platform for engineering fast-acting covalent protein therapeutics. Their work, titled "A high-throughput selection system for fast-acting covalent protein drugs," opens new avenues for next-generation biologics.

Covalent small-molecule drugs have shown great success in cancer therapy by forming irreversible bonds with their targets. This has inspired efforts to extend covalent strategies to protein therapeutics, especially engineered miniproteins. However, their development is limited by a kinetic mismatch: Miniproteins are rapidly cleared in vivo, whereas covalent bond formation is typically slow. In addition, high-throughput platforms for systematically optimizing covalent protein reactivity have been lacking.

To address this challenge, the researchers proposed that precise spatial positioning of chemical warheads within protein scaffolds could enable molecular preorganization, thereby accelerating covalent bond formation without increasing intrinsic reactivity (Fig. 1).

Based on this concept, the team developed a high-throughput platform that combines yeast surface display with chemoselective protein modification to screen diverse crosslinkers and millions of protein variants. By optimizing warhead placement and the local chemical environment, the platform enables rapid and irreversible target engagement.

Using this platform, the researchers developed a covalent antagonist targeting PD-L1, termed IB101. Structural analysis revealed that IB101 forms a defined binding pocket that precisely positions the warhead in a reactive conformation, greatly accelerating covalent bond formation. Functionally, IB101 effectively blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway and demonstrates strong antitumor activity in mouse models. Notably, despite its short in vivo half-life, IB101 achieves durable target engagement and tumor suppression, outperforming conventional antibody-based therapies under comparable conditions.

The platform was further applied to cytokine engineering, leading to the development of a covalent IL-18 variant, IB201. This engineered cytokine rapidly forms a covalent interaction with its receptor, enhancing signaling strength and duration. In vivo studies showed that IB201 induces potent antitumor immune responses without detectable systemic toxicity. These results highlight the potential of covalent engineering to improve the efficacy and safety of cytokine-based therapies.

Beyond immunotherapy targets, the platform was also applied to develop a covalent inhibitor targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. This molecule achieves durable viral neutralization, demonstrating the versatility of the approach across different therapeutic modalities.

This study establishes a general strategy for engineering fast-acting covalent protein therapeutics. By enabling covalent bond formation on timescales compatible with rapid in vivo clearance, the platform overcomes a fundamental limitation in the field.

These findings provide a new framework for designing biologics with both rapid kinetics and sustained target engagement, with broad implications for cancer immunotherapy, antiviral therapy, and beyond.

Media Contact: 

Chi Zhang
media@westlake.edu.cn 
+86-15659837873

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Fast-Acting Covalent Protein Drugs From a New High-Throughput Platform