SkinBioTherapeutics selects probiotic blends for acne study

Skin health specialist SkinBioTherapeutics updated the market on its decision on the probiotic blends to be used in a consumer volunteer study aimed at acne treatment on Tuesday.

The AIM-traded firm said the study would compare two distinct probiotic blends to gauge their effectiveness in targeting inflammatory pathways linked to acne.

Scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of the year, the study aimed to provide an alternative approach to acne treatment that could potentially bypass the side effects associated with current steroid-based therapies.

Supplied by Dutch food supplement provider Winclove Probiotics, the two probiotic blends would be given to participants in powder form.

Though that may not be the ultimate formulation for a commercial product, the powder form parallelled the company's existing product, AxisBiotix PS - a probiotic supplement for psoriasis treatment.

An independent third-party organisation would oversee the study, running two separate cohorts in parallel to evaluate the efficacy of the respective blends.

The advantage of a consumer volunteer study, as opposed to a more rigorous clinical trial, was in its relatively lower cost and shorter duration, the board explained.

Results were expected to be released by the end of 2023, with additional details about the study to be disclosed by the end of the third quarter.

“There is an enormous market for acne treatment that we are eager to enter, and to provide those who struggle with the condition with a microbiome-based product that has the potential to alleviate their symptoms,” said chief executive officer Stuart Ashman.

“The use of probiotic treatments for acne is relatively novel but could hold some major advantages over current treatments.

“Identifying the two blends we intend to use is another step forward in the preparation for our study in acne later this year.”

Ashman said the company had shown it could develop and commercialise products with the first being AxisBiotix-Ps, which was now launched in three countries.

“An AxisBiotix programme for acne will be our second commercial product.

“We have learnt a lot from our first product development and launch; we are in a good position for the next one.

“We eagerly anticipate commencing and seeing the results of this study with a view to bringing a new formula to market.”

At 1201 BST, shares in SkinBioTherapeutics were down 1.48% at 21.67p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.