(Boursier.com) — Amoeba climbed 7% to 0.428 euros this Tuesday, while the industrial biotech in pre-marketing specializing in the treatment of microbiological risk announced that it had obtained convincing results for the use of Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate for skin care in cosmetic and have filed a patent application relating to this invention.
As part of its search for new applications, the Company discovered, unexpectedly, that the lysate of the non-pathogenic amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky could have a cosmetic benefit. To validate this use, two studies were carried out by specialized laboratories and the convincing results described below led the Company to file a patent to protect the use of the lysate as a cosmetic ingredient.
First study: Induction of genes of interest in cosmetics This first study was carried out by a specialized external laboratory with the aim of evaluating the level of induction of target genes of cosmetic interest after contacting cultured human skin cells in the laboratory with the lysate of Willaertia magna C2c Maky.
The results showed that the treatment of human cells with the lysate of Willaertia magna C2c Maky stimulates cellular functions of importance in cosmetics: – Moderate stimulation of the expression of cellular functions of healing (FBL5 gene), of the synthesis of hyaluronic acid (HAS gene) and anti-infectious immunity (TLR2 gene) – Very strong stimulation of the expression of cellular functions of protection against cell death (BCL2 gene), cell renewal (PIWIL1 gene) and UV protection, anti-oxidative stress and photo-aging (FOXO1 and SGK1 genes). These results demonstrating the induction of multiple genes of cosmetic interest led the Company to evaluate the effect of Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate on a 3-dimensional (3D) skin model.
Second study: Evaluation of the effect of the lysate on a 3D skin model This study was carried out by LabSkin Creations, a biotechnology company specializing in advanced 3D skin engineering and a supplier to major global cosmetics brands. The Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate was applied, every 2 to 3 days for 30 days, to the LabSkin 3D model of reconstructed skin in order to evaluate the effect of the lysate on aging skin.
A portion of the tissue constructs was exposed to 100 mJ/cm2 of UVB to evaluate the level of protection induced by the lysate against the effects of UVB. The results on the ‘3D’ model of aging skin and on the 3D model of young skin subjected to UVB showed that, compared to untreated conditions, treatment with Willaertia magna C2c Maky lysate increases the thickness of the epidermis, leads to a recovery of terminal differentiation of cells and improves the quality and abundance of the extracellular matrix which is essential for the cohesion of the skin compartments.
Amoeba lysate could therefore be used as a cosmetic ingredient for the following cosmetic uses: – protection against cell death of skin cells, – cellular renewal of skin cells, – protection against the effects of UV, – anti- oxidative stress, – protection against photoaging. The next step planned in the coming months will consist of producing a test formulation to carry out cosmetic trials on volunteers by specialized companies. Intellectual property and regulatory requirements
The company has filed a patent with the French patent office (National Institute of Industrial Property) entitled “Cosmetic composition comprising protozoa” to protect the invention of a cosmetic composition for skin care comprising protozoa of the amoebic genus Willaertia.
No prior approval
At the regulatory level, in Europe and the United States, the marketing of a cosmetic product does not require prior approval by a competent authority: the person responsible for placing the formulated cosmetic product on the market must carry out a self-assessment of their safety. Amoéba could offer players in the cosmetic industry an ingredient whose absence of danger has been validated by all the regulatory studies carried out for the biocontrol application, the cosmetic ingredient being identical to the active biocontrol substance.
“Unexpectedly, the company has just released a new application for its amoeba lysate… We understand that from a business point of view, management is still in the exploration phase on how to best relevant to exploit this outlet” comments Portzamparc. “Amoeba intends to join forces with cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical players to offer its biosourced ingredient so that it can be integrated into creams sold to the general public. The regulatory aspect being simplified, the company should be able to quickly validate its active ingredient. The formulation, testing and business development stages are planned for 2024… From a production point of view, given the tiny quantities that will ultimately be used, this will have no impact on the production capacities of the company” concludes the analyst who is targeting a price of 1.09 euros while remaining a buyer on the file.