Partner Article

SkinBioTherapeutics to float on the UK AIM market

UK-based Optibiotix, one of the world leaders in the development of human microbiome modulators, has announced that its majority-owned subsidiary, SkinBioTherapeutics, will seek admission to AIM. SkinBioTherapeutics uses extracts from probiotic bacteria to modulate the skin microbiome[1] in order to improve skin health. Its key areas of focus are cosmetic skin care, infection control, and eczema.

SkinBioTherapeutics has shown that its microbiome modulators are able to: increase the skin’s barrier integrity by enhancing the formation of multi-protein complexes called ‘tight junctions’, which seal the space between adjacent gut cells to prevent the passage of toxins, molecules and ions through these spaces; protect the skin from infection by outcompeting harmful pathogens; and increase the rate of skin healing in response to injury. These findings were based on research carried out in collaboration with the University of Manchester.

OptiBiotix is a specialist in microbiome modulation, and has already had success with both probiotic and prebiotic products that modulate the gut microbiome. Their most recent research demonstrated that OptiBiotix’s microbiome modulators can successfully increase the growth and biological effect of multiple species of microbe in human gut models, including their own cholesterol-reducing probiotic, LP-LDL®. This research was presented at Probiota by microbiologist and CEO of Optibiotix Stephen O’Hara earlier this year.

Stephen O’Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix, commented: “The rapid development and growing awareness in the microbiome have been matched by OptiBiotix’s progress in a number of diverse areas of key scientific and commercial interest. OptiBiotix’s skin division has built its own IP, team, and development programmes to a point where the Board believe the scale of the opportunities offered by its SkinBiotix® technology in the biotherapeutic space may be best realised by separate listing. The modulation of the skin microbiome in order to improve skin health is a very exciting area, and we look forward to the development of SkinBioTherapeutics.”

The human skin microbiome

The skin is the human body’s largest organ, colonized by a diverse milieu of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, most of which are harmless or even beneficial. Recently, advances in molecular and analytical techniques have permitted identification and quantitation of species and strains of bacteria that live on the skin, their metabolic activity, and interactions with the human host. These studies have provided greater insight into the role of skin microbiota in skin health, disease, and infection.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535073/

About OptiBiotix

OptiBiotix was formed in March 2012 by Stephen O’Hara to develop compounds which modify the human microbiome – the collective genome of the microbes in the body – to prevent and manage human disease.

The aim of OptiBiotix is to discover and develop microbial strains, compounds and formulations, which modulate the human microbiome and can be used as food ingredients and supplements or active compounds for the prevention and management of human metabolic diseases, examples of which include obesity, cholesterol and lipid distribution and diabetes.

OptiBiotix has established a pipeline of microbiome modulators that can impact on lipid and cholesterol management, energy harvest and appetite suppression. The development pipeline is fuelled by its proprietary OptiScreen® and OptiBiotic® platform technologies designed to identify metabolic pathways and compounds that impact on human physiology and bring potential health benefits. These platforms are applicable across a wider range of other human diseases.

http://www.optibiotix.com/

About SkinBioTherapeutics plc

SkinBioTherapeutics is a life science company focused on skin health. The Company’s proprietary platform technology, SkinBiotix™, is based upon discoveries made by CEO Dr. Catherine O’Neill and Professor Andrew McBain.

Following a breakthrough in microbiome research, SkinBioTherapeutics’ platform applies research discoveries made on the activities of lysates derived from probiotic bacteria when applied to the skin. The Company has shown that the SkinBiotix™ platform can improve the barrier effect of skin models – from moisture retention to anti-infection to repair.

SkinBioTherapeutics is targeting three specific markets; cosmetics, infection control and eczema. In each of these areas the Company intends to exemplify its technology in human studies. The most advanced programme is focused on creating an ingredient for the cosmetics industry to treat sensitive skin. The business strategy is to outlicense its programmes at proof of concept.

SkinBioTherapeutics received seed funding from the Tech Transfer office of the University of Manchester for the discovery of SkinBiotix™. The platform was subsequently spun out of the University of Manchester in March 2016 and was funded by OptiBiotix (AIM: OPTI).

The Company is based in Manchester, UK. For more information, visit www.skinbiotherapeutics.com.

[1] Grice EA, Segre JA. The skin microbiome. Nature reviews Microbiology. 2011;9(4):244-253. doi:10.1038/nrmicro2537. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535073/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by VPR .