Industry falls in behind L’Oréal's investment in breakthrough discovery from Antarctic fish

26-May-2014 - Last updated on 27-May-2014 at 11:03 GMT

Related tags Anti-ageing skin care Skin

Last November, we reported on L’Oréal filing a use of patent on Sirona Biochem’s secret to anti-ageing from Antarctic fish. Less than a year later, further developments also see potential in skin lightening treatments and the latest deal involves Bloom Burton to commercialize new treatments in the areas of inflammation.

Sirona's breakthrough was originally thought to be mainly in the area of anti-ageing but has of late been found to have relevance in skin lightening and inflammation treatment.

Since L’Oréal's interest in the project, more cosmetic affiliations have been jumping on-board to adopt the new technology including Bloom Burton, with some saying they have products close to marketability and others showing multiple uses in the pipeline.

"We believe Sirona has more therapeutic opportunities and we are excited to develop these assets in partnership with them and monetize them at the appropriate time," says Bloom Burton president, Brian Bloom.

Sirona has also signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Obagi, a specialist in hyperpigmentation, acne and sun damage products for the commercialization of its skin lightening compound TFC-849.

Meanwhile; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has also partnered up with the company to use each other's technology to create an anti-ageing skin care treatment.

"Our shared goal is to create an anti-ageing skin treatment that presents unparalleled efficacy and commercial opportunity for the predicted $300 billion dollar anti-ageing global market," says Neil Belenkie, CEO of Sirona Biochem.

The project is also being championed by Jacques Cousteau's son and grandson, Jean-Michel and Fabien Cousteau, who will lend their global brand to support the commercialization of this new cosmetic technology, especially because it does not require harvesting any fish.

Breakdown of the breakthrough

Naturally occurring glycoproteins in antarctic fish have the ability to preserve cells, tissues and organs when exposed to environmental stressors and this can be adapted for anti-ageing skin care and cosmetics.

Based on these glycoproteins, Sirona has developed two generations of synthesized glycoproteins that are safe for human use. The outcome is a compound that protects skin cells from damage and has the potential to allow the cells to live longer, leaving people looking younger.

“80% of visual ageing is related to cell death; we believe our compounds can protect these skin cells from damage, allowing the cells to live longer,” Belenkie told Cosmetics Design back in November.

“In a recent study, Sirona Biochem’s anti-ageing compounds kept 95% of the protected skin cells alive for 7 days compared to the unprotected control group where only 8% of the cells were still alive after 7 days.”