ProtoKinetix has  announced that it has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with Imaginative Research Associates, Inc. to formulate a topical anti-inflammation product for the skin care market. Over the last 23-years Imaginative Research Associates, Inc. has successfully partnered with several large pharmaceutical dermatology and cosmetic companies and has licensed out patents and know-how to launch many leading products in the skin care arena.

Naomi Vishnupad, PhD, is the president and COO of this Massachusetts based firm and has over 10-years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in all areas of drug development. She has held positions in both big pharma, such as Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and small biotech companies. Naomi holds a PhD and MS in immunology and a BS in biology.

Upon completion of this formulation, the Joint Venture will be able to offer a topical preparation to specifically address skin conditions caused by inflammation. Conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema are often treated with applications of corticosteroids or immune modulators, both of which carry inherent, long term health risks. ProtoKinetix’ AAGP has consistently demonstrated powerful anti-inflammatory properties without toxic side effects. The formulation and development of this therapeutic product line will offer hope for an effective prescription and over the counter preparations to combat these chronic inflammation causing diseases, while eliminating potential risks from many of the current front line treatments.

Naomi Vishnupad stated that “There is a great need for new topical anti-inflammatory treatments to treat a wide variety of skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Many of the available treatments have some undesirable side effects, and new therapeutic treatments would be considered an advancement in dermatology”. ProtoKinetix’ president and CEO, Ross Senior comments that “This Joint Venture supports ProtoKinetix’ pursuit of AAGP products for markets looking for safe and effective solutions to diseases and conditions caused by chronic inflammation and immune response deficiencies.”

ProtoKinetix, Inc. is a biotechnology company that has developed and patented a family of synthetic Anti-Ageing Glycopeptides (AAGP) for medicine and the biotechnology and cosmetic industries. PKTX’s primary focus is on the therapeutic potential for AAGP in the treatment of diabetes, inflammatory diseases, skin protection and anti-ageing.