Vion strikes new deal for melanin ingredient
for its Melasyn technology with B&P Company. The deal will see
the ingredient further extended into a range of cosmetics products,
including cover-up and self tanning formulations, reports Simon
Pitman.
Melasyn is a synthetic form of melanin that dissolves readily in water. As Melanin is a pigment formed by cells in the skin that gives skin its color and protects it from sun damage by absorbing ultraviolet rays, it can be incorporated into a range of skin care products that provide skin coloring or tinting.
"This agreement extends the licensing of this products, creating new possibilities for us," Howard Johnson, president and CFO, told CosmeticsDesign.com. "We have another licensing agreement for this product with Johnson and Johnson Having so the latest agreement helps to extend the technology's reach."
B&P Company, based in Dayton, Ohio, is now using the Melasyn technology in a product line called Immune Perfect, which is being marketed by its company, Frownies.
Immune Perfect forms part of a comprehensive range of anti-aging products from what is claimed to be America's first ever dedicated anti-aging skin care company.
The product claims to have hydrating and antioxidant properties that help keep the skin in good condition, boosted by the Melasyn technology.
Melanin was first developed at Yale Medical School by John Pawelek back in the mid-90s. Originally it was used in a product line by Dermablend, the company that was subsequently bought out by L'Oreal.
Vion said that the terms of the agreement do not include any upfront or milestone payments. If products including the technology are developed, the company will receive a royalty based on sales in countries where it has issued patents.
Vion Pharmaceuticals has built a reputation developing agents for the treatment of cancer, with its Melasyn technology being the only offering for the cosmetics and personal care sector.
