‘2010 will be exciting year’ (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

‘2010 will be exciting year’

9:50am Friday 13th November 2009 in

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A Bradford-based pharmaceutical research company which is developing treatments for skin conditions such as acne is looking forward to an ‘exciting’ 2010.

Syntopix has confirmed it is in discussions with leading cosmetic and healthcare producers to take its products to market.

The company said it had received positive feedback from licensing partners for three core compounds which had undergone successful clinical trials.

Chief executive Stephen Jones said one of the compounds, SYN0126, a cosmetic ingredient which targets spots before redness sets in, could provide a step forward in the management of acne.

He said: “We are very happy with things at present and hopefully moving closer to commercial development of these compounds. But you don’t know how long that process will take.

“We are now actively pursuing discussions with leading cosmetic and consumer healthcare companies to investigate the possibility of securing a licensing agreement for SYN0126 and are confident that the positive results from this study will lead to commercial deals in the near future.”

The company, based at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation at the Bradford University, has also had positive reactions to two other compounds, SYN1113 and SYN0017. Syntopix is continuing screening to identify antimicrobial compounds for use in over-the-counter and cosmetic products for skin care, oral care and chewing gum.

The firm is developing a strong working relationship with pharmaceuticals giant Procter & Gamble, with which it signed a major development deal last year, and is also in collaboration to develop antimicrobials for use in an undisclosed major consumer healthcare brand.

Mr Jones said he believed the strategy of delivering proven formulations to the cosmetic and consumer markets would enable Syntopic to gain a number of ‘early revenue streams’.

The firm has had its tenth patent granted and has submitted 22 applications.

Syntopix was founded in 2003 as a spin-out from Leeds University by Dr Jon Cove and Dr Anne Eady, two experts in skin microbiology.