Syntopix to target key healthcare markets

ACNE specialist Syntopix Group is looking for new applications for its compounds which combat skin disorders and oral disease.

The Bradford-based company, which is a spin-out from the University of Leeds, said it sees multi-billion pound global opportunities in the acne, oral hygiene, hair care and deodorant markets.

Chief executive Dr Stephen Jones said: "We have expanded our screening programmes to encompass a wider range of potential applications."

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The group has identified a number of opportunities in the areas of acne, gingivitis, dandruff and body odour and will target both the cosmetic and consumer healthcare markets.

"We are committed to discovering, developing and delivering antimicrobial compounds for the treatment of these conditions to take advantage of these large market opportunities," said Dr Jones.

Syntopix now has a proprietary database of over 3,000 compounds.

The group believes it has significant potential to identify new antimicrobial compounds that could be used in the acne, gingivitis, dandruff and body odour markets.

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The group said operating losses fell from 1.29m to 1.11m for the year to the end of July after operating costs were reduced.

The company reported revenues of 151,000 for the year, down from 190,000 the previous year, after signing commercial agreements with new and existing partners.

In August, the group announced it had signed an exclusive deal with a global marketing firm focused on home, health and personal care brands.

The unnamed firm will be granted first refusal to negotiate a deal for further development and eventual commercialisation of a compound Syntopix currently has under clinical evaluation.

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Syntopix will receive payments throughout the clinical phase.

The AIM-listed company said that the deal will build on its key strategy of identifying potential compounds and forming partnerships with leading healthcare and cosmetic companies to bring its products to market.

Last year the firm signed a deal with a consumer healthcare giant to allow it access to its library of compounds. The unnamed firm was given access to Syntopix's library.

In March it raised 2m by placing new shares with investors.

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The funds will be used to pay for further studies into its key compounds and to continue its development programme. Both new and existing shareholders participated in the placing.

In April the group announced an agreement with Sinclair Pharma to work together on the identification of an anti-microbial compound.

This was followed up with a second agreement in October, building on the success of the first one.

Syntopix will receive royalty revenues if any of the resulting formulations for oral health and other medical applications are commercialised.

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"The global markets that the group has identified are significant but, due to the restrictive cost of discovering safe compounds, there has historically been a lack of innovation," said Dr Jones.

"In addition, some of the antimicrobial compounds presently in use are increasingly linked to concerns about environmental toxicity and/or bacterial resistance.

"Syntopix's approach is to identify and develop cost-effective alternative compounds and methodologies which overcome these issues and which reduce the high risks and costs of early compound discovery.

"At the same time, the group aims to reduce the lead-time to market normally associated with conventional product development."

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During the year Syntopix has added selectively to its library of potential development candidates.

The group's screening process has shown that approximately 30 per cent of these compounds show antimicrobial activity against the key organism which causes acne, Propionibacterium acnes.

THE INNOVATIONS THAT BRING PROVEN BENEFITS

Syntopix focuses on innovations for the cosmetic, consumer healthcare and pharmaceutical markets.

The group was founded in 2003 as a spin-out from the University of Leeds by Dr Jon Cove and Dr Anne Eady, two of the world's leading experts in skin microbiology.

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Syntopix develops innovative compounds which have clinical efficacy and proven benefits for the treatment of acne, gingivitis and body odour.

The group's development will centre on several key compounds which have multiple potential uses across a number of large consumer healthcare markets including skincare, body odour and oral health.

Syntopix' shareholders include IP Group, The Wellcome Trust and The University of Leeds.