| LibraGen moves into skin care, uses know-how in compound synthesis via biocatalysis to boost production of an active plant ingredient at Yves Rocher Toulouse, France, 6 July 2006 — LibraGen, a bacterial diversity-based process and discovery specialist, announces today it has extended its partnership with Yves Rocher into a new area. The new area involves the optimization of production bioprocesses using enzymes in the presence of natural solvents and the delivery of the first batches of this active ingredient. |   |
The agreement follows the successful conclusion of the first project carried out for Yves Rocher which involved the optimization of the biocatalytic synthesis of the same active plant ingredient. LibraGen’s first collaboration with Yves Rocher resulted in a significant improvement in the space of a few months in the enzymatic synthesis reaction of an active plant ingredient, giving a 50-fold increase in concentration. The plant-based product using this biological procedure for which Yves Rocher holds the patent is expected to be highly effective and able to be directly incorporated in Yves Rocher’s skin care products. The new process that LibraGen has now delivered moves the collaboration forward to allow mass production of the bioactivated natural plant molecule.
"Our successful partnership shows once again LibraGen’s ability to set up innovative synthesis processes very fast, as well as our know-how in applied biocatalysis in research, development and industrial use," said Renaud Nalin, CEO of LibraGen. "The fact that Yves Rocher is extending its collaboration and doing new research with us shows the industrial potential of this new bioconversion process for the plant compound."
"This partnership is in line with Yves Rocher’s strategy of continuous innovation in the development of new natural products on the plant cosmetics market so as better to respond to its clients’ expectations in our future cosmetic ranges," said Claude Fromageot, Scientific Director at Yves Rocher. "LibraGen will now use its know-how to use biological conversion to produce the active plant ingredient in an ecological manner which respects the environment."
About LibraGen
LibraGen, Toulouse, France, specializes in the development of bioprocesses for the production of healthcare molecules and the discovery of new chemical scaffolds with cross-industry applications. By focusing on untapped biodiversity, the company has developed a platform of proven proprietary technologies to identify, validate and produce high added-value enzymes and molecules for industrial, pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetic and environmental applications. The overall combination of LibraGen’s scientific and production know-how, technology platform and research results has already achieved a number of successful partnerships in research and production in the fields of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and fine chemistry. In parallel with these partnerships with leading pharma companies, LibraGen’s internal research is building up a pipeline of new active molecules with anti-infectious and anti-cancer applications.
For more information, visit www.libragen.com.
About Yves-Rocher Laboratories
Yves Rocher’s 150 scientists work daily to explore how plant-based substances can contribute to skin care. These scientists bring a multitude of disciplines to bear on the challenge. The team includes botanists, biologists, phytochemists, histologists, pharmacists and dermatologists, all of whom work together in an environment where creativity and scientific curiosity are encouraged. They work with other scientists at international level, present and publish their work regularly, and form partnerships with many research labs and innovative companies.
Forty years’ know-how, innovation and results mean that Yves Rocher is number one brand worldwide for plant-based cosmetics. With more than 50 families of patent filed and 30 million customers in 90 countries, Yves Rocher is also the leading brand of beauty salons in France. The Plant Biology Laboratories of Yves Rocher are committed to bring together plant resources, scientific advances and respect for nature.
Yves Rocher in figures: 298 million products sold worldwide, 30 million customers, 1,500 beauty centers, EUR 1.2 billion sales in 2005.
For more information: www.yves-rocher.com.
Source: LibraGen
