IGI licenses its nanotechnology for new cosmetics line
with Infusion Biotechnologies to produce a new line of high end
cosmetics encapsulated with Novasome nano-particle delivery
technology. The agreement marks the company's ambitions to increase
its patented nanotechnology for cosmetics applications, writes
Simon Pitman.
The companies say that at present eight formulations have been approved and two are pending. The complete product line will be marketed through large department and specialty stores, and should hit stores in early 2006, following the start of production in the third quarter of this year.
Nanotechnology involves the study and use of materials at an extremely small scale - at sizes of millionths of a millimetre - and exploits the fact that some materials have different properties at this ultra small scale from those at a larger scale. One nanometer is the same as one millionth of a millimetre.
In recent years the technology has started to creep into cosmetics formulations where it has proved successful in skincare formulations used as anti-aging and sunscreen products, although regulation for the technology has proved to be tight in view of the limited research that has been carried out in this still new field.
Susan Ramus, co-founder of Infusion Biotechnologies, started in natural skincare before diversifying into cosmeceuticals. Her co-founder is Dr. Albert J. LaTorra who is Director of Columbia Hospital's Wound Center and was the pioneer of the first Wound Care Center in the US. And it is through their joint studies that Infusion Biotechnologies was formed.
"IGI's chemists have worked with Ms. Ramus' and cofounder Dr. Albert J. LaTorra's formulations for the past eighteen months incorporating the highest quality actives from around the world to produce products with the Novasome nano-particle delivery technology," stated Frank Gerardi, IGI's Chairman and CEO.
"This product line uses only clinically tested actives at or above their tested efficacious levels. The line is expected to enter into clinical trials whose protocol was written and will be overseen by a major Medical University."
IGI claims that its patented delivery technology contributes value-added qualities to cosmetics, skin care products, dermatological formulations and other consumer products by providing improved dermal absorption, controlled and sustained release as well as improved stability and greater ease of formulation.
Novasome basically allows for the containment and controlled delivery of cosmetics formulations. Compared to liposome encapsulation of the early 80s, the company claims that the technology enables existing active ingredients to be entrapped in a much more efficient way during storage and prior to use, further enhancing an ingredient's stability. The increased stability is then said to make for a more efficient and effective delivery of a variety of active ingredients.
IGI has so far licensed the technology to leading global dermatological and skin care companies including Johnson & Johnson, Estee Lauder, Chattem, Genesis Pharmaceutical and Apollo Pharmaceutical.
Recently it also sub-licensed the rights to obtain FDA approval for and market IGI's PTH (1-34) compound for psoriasis, which is slated for Phase II clinical trials, to Manhattan Pharmaceuticals.
