SkinBioTherapeutics PLC (LON:SBTX) expects a study in people of a cosmetic skin care cream next year to be the start of ‘serious’ commercialisation talks.
Tentative discussions have already begun, Cath O’Neill, the skin microbiome specialist’s chief executive told Proactive Investors, but human data is crucial to the process.
“Human data is gold dust. The results of the study will spark a major value inflexion point from which we can start serious conversations about commercialisation.”
WATCH:SkinBioTherapeutics' Dr Cath O'Neill named one of healthcare's top movers and shakers
SkinBiotix, the company's microbiome platform, will be tested in a cosmteic consumer efficacy study, a far less demanding process than clinical trials.
Around sixty patients will be involved in the study for a month and if successful, it will be allowed on sale almost immediately.
Work on the formulation of the skin cream has also started, O’Neill said, adding this was another crucial part of the product development process.
SkinBiotix recently passed an independent in-vitro (test tube) cytotoxicity safety test with flying colours and now just has two more safety tests to clear before the human efficacy study can begin.
SkinBioTherapeutics presented data recently at a microbiome symposium sponsored by Wellcome Trust that was well received, but the human trial will be a major step forward, she added.
“Once the results [from the human study] are in we are good to go.”
SkinBiotix might be either an ingredient in someone else’s product or a brand in its own right.
O’Neill was talking to Proactive after being named among the top 50 female movers and shakers in the BioBusiness 2017 report.
She said was delighted to receive the award especially as SkinbioTherapeutics was listed in the great science category.
“SkinBioTherapeutics is founded on very robust science and is proud of its scientific heritage.”
The company is working on three applications for its microbiome-based products: cosmetics; an anti-infective and an eczema treatment.
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