Skinvisible, Inc., a pharmaceutical research and development company announced that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Mayquest Pharmaceuticals Pte. Ltd. for the rights for DermSafe, Skinvisible's patented antimicrobial hand sanitizer lotion proven to kill the H1N1 swine flu virus. The license agreement includes Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mayquest will pay an upfront license fee in milestones for the exclusive manufacturing and marketing rights for DermSafe in the territory. Skinvisible will also receive on-going royalties from product sales.
"Mayquest is an excellent partner to bring DermSafe to both the retail and healthcare market in Southeast Asia," said Terry Howlett, president and CEO of Skinvisible. "This agreement represents an important step in accelerating our worldwide approval and commercialization of DermSafe for the prevention of the spread of the swine flu and other viruses and bacteria. Mayquest has strong medical and regulatory contacts along with the financial backing required to bring DermSafe quickly and successfully to market." He added, "This is our first licensing agreement for DermSafe and we continue to actively seek and negotiate license agreements for other countries worldwide."
According to the World Health Organization, the H1N1 is already present in more than 170 countries and territories in the four months since being identified. In the United States scientific advisors to the White House warned that "Swine flu may hospitalize 1.8 million patients in the U.S. this year … during a fall resurgence". The President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology stated that 30 to 50 percent (90 to 150 million) of the country's population could be infected in the fall and winter with up to 90,000 people dying. This number is double the deaths that normal seasonal flu causes. DermSafe is proven to not only kill bacteria and viruses immediately but also to stay bound to the skin for four hours, continuing to kill germs even after hand washing.
Skinvisible has conducted numerous bacterial and viral studies at approved FDA and EU equivalent laboratories including Retroscreen Virology in London, England. DermSafe has been proven to kill/inactivate the influenza viruses H1N1 (swine flu), H3N2 and H5N1 (avian bird flu virus) along with other viruses and bacteria. DermSafe, made with Skinvisible's patented technology Invisicare, remains on the skin for four hours, providing continuous protection. DermSafe is distinctively different than products made with alcohol which kill only on contact, offering no sustained protection from the next contact and have other associated issues due to their drying effect on the skin and safety risks. The active ingredient in DermSafe is chlorhexidine gluconate, which has been safely used in hospitals worldwide for over fifty years as a pre-surgical hand scrub.
Invisicare is Skinvisible's patented polymer delivery system that offers life-cycle management and unique enhancements for topically delivered products. It is a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers that hold active ingredients on the skin for extended periods of time resisting both wash off and perspiration. Invisicare can control the release of actives and reduce irritation. It is non-occlusive and allows for normal skin respiration while protecting against environmental irritants.
Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals is a research-and-development company whose primary business objective is to license its proprietary formulations with Invisicare to pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical companies as well as assisting companies in enhancing their existing skin care products.