CALGARY, March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - SemBioSys Genetics Inc. , a biotechnology company developing a broad pipeline of protein-based pharmaceutical product candidates and non-pharmaceutical products, today announced the publication of new data on the DermaSphere(R) Oleosome Technology by the Company’s licensee Lonza Inc. in the leading technology-focused personal care industry trade journal, Cosmetics & Toiletries. The article, entitled “Oleosomes: Natural, Self-emulsifying Systems”, which appeared in the January 2006 edition of the journal, discusses for the first time recent research completed by Lonza on the utility of DermaSphere(R) oleosomes as a controlled-release carrier for active ingredients in personal care formulations.
“These new results from Lonza independently validate the functionality of our DermaSphere(R) Oleosome Technology as both a self-emulsifying system as well as a carrier and potential delivery mechanism in cosmetic formulations,” said Andrew Baum, President and CEO of SemBioSys Genetics Inc. “With Lonza expanding the application development of DermaSphere(R) oleosomes to include these additional benefits, it has increased the market opportunity to SemBioSys for this product, especially considering the marketing and distribution support that an industry leader like Lonza can offer.”
The article summarizes the unique combination of self-emulsification, anti-oxidation, occlusivity and emolliency benefits of oleosomes as an ingredient system. The article also provides new information describing the flexibility of oleosomes to be loaded with a wide array of oil-soluble materials, enabling its use as a carrier and delivery system for fragrances, vitamins or UV chromophores. The article reports on the remarkable stability of “loaded” oleosomes and provides evidence for controlled release of fragrances in double-blind panel testing. The article concludes that the DermaSphere(R) Oleosome Technology constitutes a true multifunctional ingredient system, providing broad utility for personal care applications.
“We are constantly researching and finding new applications for this unique technology,” said Carl Cappabianca, Vice President of Global Personal Care Marketing at Lonza. “More formulator benefits are around the corner as we continue our development work with DermaSphere(R) technology.”
Lonza used the DermaSphere(R) Oleosome Technology developed by SemBioSys to launch its Natrulon(R) OSF in late 2004. Natrulon(R) OSF, the initial product in the line which is comprised of safflower oleosomes, is distributed and supported globally by Lonza. Various upcoming technical conferences and presentations at trade shows, as well as revised advertisements and literature, will further highlight the additional DermaSphere(R) oleosome developments Lonza has discovered.
The full article can be viewed by visiting Cosmetics & Toiletries’ website at; www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com.
About DermaSphere(R) Oleosome Technology
The DermaSphere(R) Oleosome Technology was developed by SemBioSys Genetics Inc. Lonza and SemBioSys joined forces in May of 2004 with the execution of a licensing agreement for exclusive global rights to the technology for use in personal care applications. The DermaSphere(R) Oleosome Technology is based on a natural oil-in-water emulsion derived from plant oilseeds. The emulsion is comprised of naturally occurring oil droplets called oleosomes, in which the oil is surrounded by a shell of phospholipids and unique proteins called oleosin. The oleosome core provides emolliency, occlusivity and anti-oxidant effects, and the outer shell provides emulsifying properties. An oleosome emulsion can be used as the entire non-active portion of the oil phase of a typical cosmetic formulation. With this technology cosmetic formulations can be prepared under “cold process” conditions, enabling significant savings in time, energy and inventory management. These unique attributes of the DermaSphere(R) oleosomes allow the technology to be used in a wide range of applications including moisturizing creams, sunscreens, ointments, lotions, eye-care products as well as many others.
About SemBioSys Genetics Inc. (www.sembiosys.com)
Calgary, Alberta-based SemBioSys Genetics Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on the development, commercialization and production of protein-based pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceutical products based on its plant genetic engineering skills and proprietary oilbody-oleosin technology platform - the Stratosome(TM) Biologics System. Its two lead pharmaceutical product candidates are insulin and a developmental cardiovascular drug called Apo AI. It also has a series of non-pharmaceutical products addressing animal health, nutritional oils and human topical markets. SemBioSys currently has five major funded partnership agreements including agreements with Martek Biosciences Corporation, Lonza Inc. and Arcadia Biosciences, Inc.
About Lonza Inc. (www.lonza.com)
Lonza, a chemical and biotechnology company driven by the life sciences, generated sales of CHF 2.52 billion in 2005. Headquartered in Switzerland, Lonza operates 22 production and R&D sites around the world. Its 6300 employees are passionately committed to delivering sustainable value to their customers. Lonza is one of the leading custom manufacturers of chemical intermediates, active ingredients and biopharmaceuticals for the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. On the basis of organic chemical, oleochemical and biotechnology platforms, Lonza creates value-added solutions for the nutrition, hygiene & personal care, wood & water treatment and industrial specialty markets. Lonza also offers polymer intermediates, resins and compounds. Lonza is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange.
In the personal care industry, Lonza is one of the world’s leading specialty chemical companies with substantial global resources in research and development, technical and applications service and broadly based manufacturing capability. Lonza has an on-going commitment to developing technology and solutions to the personal care industry in a variety of areas including world-leading positions in preservatives and specialty active compounds.
Natrulon is a registered trademark of Lonza Inc. DermaSphere and Stratosome are trademarks of SemBioSys Genetics Inc.
Except for historical information, this press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on the Company’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the assumption was made. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s ongoing quarterly and annual reporting.
SemBioSys Genetics Inc.
CONTACT: SemBioSys Genetics Inc., Mr. Andrew Baum, President and ChiefExecutive Officer, Phone: (403) 717-8767, Fax: (403) 250-3886, E-mail:bauma@sembiosys.com, Internet: www.sembiosys.com; Investor Relations, RossMarshall, The Equicom Group Inc., Phone: (416) 815-0700 (Ext. 238), Fax:(416) 815-0080, E-mail: rmarshall@equicomgroup.com; Lonza Inc., Mr. CarlCappabianca, Vice President, Global Personal, Care Marketing, Phone: (201)316-9305, Fax: (201) 785-1364, E-mail: carl.cappabianca@lonza.com,Internet: www.lonza.com; Lonza Inc., Ms. Christine Casper, CommunicationsManager, Phone: (201) 316-9236, Fax: (201) 785-1364, E-mail:christine.casper@lonza.com, Internet: www.lonza.com
