Xycrobe, Johnson & Johnson Consumer enter into research collaboration

Xycrobe Therapeutics announced it has entered into a research agreement with Johnson & Johnson Consumer focusing on application of Xycrobe’s technology for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.

The planned collaboration will be facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation with both companies sharing information on Xycrobe technology, which “consists of a library of commensal strains from the skin microbiome engineered to grow and secrete biotherapeutics as needed to help treat an array of skin issues,” according to a press release. Xycrobe plans to explore programs on a variety of skin issues, including hair loss and toenail fungus, with a current focus on acne, psoriasis and dermatitis.

“The current paradigm for treating skin conditions, such as acne, completely disregards the importance of the commensal skin flora,” Thomas Hitchcock, PhD, founder and EO of Xycrobe, stated in the release. “We feel that the key to better treatment solutions for skin disease lies in understanding our body’s interaction with the skin microbiome, and we can leverage this information.”

“I am excited to hear about this collaboration between Xycrobe and Johnson & Consume Consumer,” Hilary Baldwin, MD, of the Acne Treatment Research Center, Morristown, New Jersey, stated in the release. “We keep trying to keep our fingers on the pulse of what is being developed in the acne space Xycrobe’s innovative technology and approach has great potential to change the way we think about how we treat acne and it’s good to see a big player working with this emerging company.”

Reference: www.xycrobe.com