Cellworks Group Inc., a proteomics-driven therapy design company has teamed up with ISP Personal Care, a global supplier of advanced cosmetic ingredients, to develop novel skin care approaches to evaluate bio-molecules and predict the effects on different skin types prior to expensive clinical testing.
Under the alliance Cellworks has offered its Virtual Skin Platform which is a sophisticated computer modelling technique to demonstrate novel skin care approaches based on ISP's Vincience line of bio-functional ingredients.
The Virtual Skin platform is a human physiology aligned predictive virtual functional system enabling skin toning and ageing associated phenotype studies. The system is an integrated co-culture view of three cell systems - Keratinocyte, Melanocyte and Fibroblast at functional proteomics abstraction.
The platform-technology enables customization for different skin types and can be triggered by various UVA/UVB concentrations, cytokines and other inputs. All endpoints and intermediate markers related to pigmentation and ageing are comprehensively supported providing ability to run studies and assay markers in a high-throughput manner, Taher Abbasi, CEO and COO, Cellworks Group Inc. told Pharmabiz.
In a recently concluded study, Cellworks platform was used to model the effects in two of its bio-functional ingredients to assess the effects on skin pigmentation. ISP was able to validate the accuracy of the results produced via Cellworks platform. This study was the first in a series of collaborations between the two companies. It will also include work on anti-aging compounds and synergies between different bio-functional ingredients.
The alliance with Cellworks is an extension of ISP's recently formed Avant Institute to develop scientific and commercial innovation for the personal care industry. The Skin platform has the potential to speed-up the discovery and development of bio-functional ingredients. "We have been closely working with this to model the interaction of the melanocyte, keratinocyte and fibroblast. The existing co-culture equivalent process requires primary cell lines which last only for 48 hours and is expensive and time consuming. The Cellworks technology improves productivity of our scientists and enable us to get better products to market in a shorter time," informed Dr Claude Dal Farra, vice president of Research & Development, ISP.
The Virtual Skin Platform also models the complex protein interactions within various cell types to predict potential human benefits and toxicity of molecules before expensive clinical trials are conducted. The complex experiments of markers via computer modeling (in silico) allow dramatic savings in time and cost when compared to traditional laboratory approaches.
Our Virtual Skin Platform has demonstrated the potential of proteomics-based approaches in skin care. This collaboration with ISP in the skin pigmentation area has been fruitful. The 'blinded' validations are a critical component in quantifying the accuracy of the predictive technology that has been developed, stated Pradeep Fernandes, president, Cellworks Group.
According to Abbasi, there has been no impact of the global slowdown on the company. Its R&D investments in India will continue as per plans. Cellworks engagement model is strategic project partnerships and collaborations based. Key development milestones across different technology assets have enabled Cellworks to offer its partners wider therapeutic indication coverage and opportunities for analyzing molecules across indications.