THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS – L’Oréal and Micreos announced the signature of a license agreement to join their expertise in biotechnology and the skin microbiome, the community of bacteria and microorganisms that live on the skin. Under the terms of the agreement, Micreos will give L’Oréal access to its endolysin, a type of active protein in the cosmetic field. With this technology, it is possible for the first time to target only unwanted bacteria in the skin flora – responsible for many skin problems – while sparing the good ones.
For 15 years, L’Oréal’s Research & Innovation has been cooperating with scientific institutions and conducting clinical studies to better understand the role of the skin microbiome. “The agreement with Micreos opens up a very promising field in high-tech cosmetics”, says Laurent Attal, Executive Vice-President Research & Innovation of L’Oréal.
Micreos develops new biological therapies based on phage and endolysin technology. Micreos CEO Mark Offerhaus: “We expect this partnership to be ground-breaking. L’Oréal has been a leader in skincare for decades. Micreos is at the forefront of targeted bacterial biotechnology. We pair our strengths and millions stand to benefit”. Micreos’ pharma development program includes endolysins that all target Staphylococcus bacteria, which cause or aggravate a broad range of health issues, including skin conditions.
