SkinBioTherapeutics expands research partnership with University of Manchester

Life science company SkinBioTherapeutics has started a research and development programme in oral health with the University of Manchester.

The 12-month programme will look into products that may reduce inflammation in the skin and expands its collaboration with the university, using funds raised in October placing and open offer.

SkinBioTherapeutics will pursue commercialisation of any successful formulations.

The programme will be led by Professor Andrew McBain and Dr Ruth Ledder from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Manchester.

Stuart Ashman, CEO of SkinBioTherapeutics, said: “This new oral health programme builds and expands on our work in skin health and applies our already substantial skin microbiome expertise to the global oral care marketplace.

“This new strand to our development portfolio also presents near term opportunities.

“We believe there is significant potential in oral care for innovative natural products with anti-microbial characteristics that can build long lasting protection against disease. This is an exciting new step for us.”

Prof Cath O’Neill, CSO of SkinBioTherapeutics said: “Our work on the skin’s epithelial barrier, the immune system and the role and importance of the microbiome in health and disease naturally extends into the other important environmental barriers such as those in the oral cavity.

“It is well understood that the epithelial surfaces in the oral cavity play vital roles in protecting us from disease. By investigating how our technology can be applied to support the health of the oral epithelia, we hope to demonstrate its potential in oral healthcare and disease prevention.”