Coegin Pharma signs agreement with the University of Bradford to commercialise groundbreaking pigmentation peptides

Coegin Pharma has entered into an exclusive agreement with the University of Bradford to complete product development and commercialise a groundbreaking patented pigmentation peptide platform. The research collaboration, which began in 2019 and includes a joint patent, aims to develop innovative solutions for skin and hair pigmentation. Coegin has now obtained full commercial rights to the pigmentation peptides, with potential first cosmetic product launch as early as 2026.

The agreement grants Coegin exclusive rights to license and commercialise the pigmentation peptides, while Bradford will receive compensation in the form of royalties on product sales. Coegin aims to launch cosmetic products for pigmentation as early as 2026 in collaboration with one or more commercial partners. The pigmentation peptide platform synergises well with the FOL005 project in hair growth, as key markets, target groups, and potential business partners are largely the same.

The plan is to complete the final phase of product development in collaboration with one or more partners, with dialogues already ongoing.

The Centre for Skin Sciences (CSS), part of the University of Bradford, is one of the most well-known academic centres in Britain for research and teaching in skin science. CSS has developed a peptide technology that adjusts the amount of melanin in the skin's pigment cells by mimicking a naturally occurring protein affecting melanin transport. The method can potentially be used to both increase and decrease pigmentation in skin and in hair.

Coegin has primarily contributed its expertise in formulation, enabling the peptides to be delivered effectively and remain stable, ensuring that the active ingredients reach their target cells without breaking down or losing their effectiveness.

The potential uses of these pigmentation peptides include:

1. Increasing overall skin pigmentation (e.g. for self-tanning, scars and stretch marks),
2. Increasing skin pigmentation locally in cases of hypopigmentation (e.g. vitiligo),
3. Restoring natural hair pigmentation (e.g. treatment of grey hair),
4. Decreasing skin pigmentation (e.g. for brown warts and age spots).

"I am incredibly pleased to announce this agreement, which represents a major milestone for the company. We are now expanding our cosmetics business segment with a novel platform of pigmentation peptides, offering the potential for rapid product launch and cash flow. These pigmentation peptides are very exciting and could revolutionise the market for skin and hair pigmentation products. We look forward to starting the commercialisation, which has many common denominators with our hair growth project FOL005, and aim for launch in 2026," says Jens Eriksson, CEO of Coegin Pharma.

"Commercialisation of intellectual property is one of the ways in which we realise the potential of our research and innovation workstreams, particularly when those are likely to have a positive impact on people's lives. This agreement with Coegin Pharma shows that our research is innovative, disruptive and has the potential to make a real difference," says Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Bradford.

For further information, please contact:
Jens Eriksson, CEO
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +46 72 221 24 21

This information is information that Coegin Pharma AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (MAR). The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 08:30 CET on August 8, 2024.

This document is a translation of the original Swedish press release. In case of any discrepancies, the Swedish version shall prevail.

About Coegin Pharma
Coegin Pharma is a Swedish biotechnology company with several innovative groundbreaking drug candidates and dermocosmetic products. The company's projects have great potential for treating patients with serious diseases such as cancer and heart attack, as well as improving the quality of life for people in need of cosmetic products for hair growth. The strategy is to create value by developing and commercialising dermocosmetic products in partnership with leading commercial players and by early out-licensing "first-in-class" drug candidates to major pharmaceutical companies. Coegin Pharma's shares are listed on NGM Nordic SME and Börse Stuttgart.

For more information: www.coeginpharma.com/en