Galderma to develop silk-based dermal fillers

Dermatology and aesthetic injectables company Galderma is to develop new bio-stimulating fillers based on silk technology. 

Galderma has entered into an agreement with medical device company Sofregen Medical  which works with silk protein for tissue building and regeneration, for the co-development and option-to-acquire of the silk-based fillers, a new category for Galderma. 

Sofregen already has a silk-based bio-stimulating injectable implant branded as Silk Voice, consisting of purified silk protein sponge particles mixed into cross-linked hyaluronic acid. The company describes the product’s mechanism as such: “The silk particles act as a scaffold and facilitate cellular infiltration; over time, the silk will be enzymatically degraded, replaced by newly generated tissue. 

“Preclinical studies show that when a suspension of these particles is injected through a small gauge needle, it acts to facilitate durable cellular ingrowth and collagen production, while slowly bio-resorbing over time.”

Under the agreement, the companies will each take on specified co-development activities related to a portfolio of novel silk-based biostimulator fillers. Galderma will have an exclusive option to acquire Sofregen’s Silk Voice as well as assets associated with its aesthetics business. 

This would mean that Galderma would have all rights to the products being co-developed by the parties, as well as ownership of Sofregen’s silk technology platform in the aesthetic and dermatological field.

Both companies are keen to bring the products to market as soon as possible. 

Galderma is also in the process of launching the first ready-to-use toxin approved for use in Europe.