A Spanish biotech company has developed two innovative neurocosmetic ingredients: the first one has been designed for the daily care of sensitive and atopic skin, and the second one is a hair care ingredient that addresses itchy and reactive scalp. Both ingredients have been tested in adults and children, are patented, and represent a new market opportunity. The company is looking for international partners in order to reach distribution services agreements and/or commercial agency agreements.

About 3% of global population (125 million people worldwide) suffer from atopic skin and other sensitive skin conditions. In general, 85% of them suffer from itching which is the most debilitating symptom. Scratching causes worsening due to the appearance of wounds. 45% of people claim that they do not get any improvement with current anti-pruritogenic therapies or products for sensitive skin, while others only respond partially. 

A Spanish startup biotech company has developed two innovative neurocosmetic ingredients designed to provide itch relief and improved skin properties. Both ingredients can be formulated in various formats such as cream, body oil or lotion, for skin and hair care applications. They are suitable for both adults and children, and have achieved safety and efficacy results, both in vitro and in vivo.

Active ingredient for sensitive skin:
Sensitive and atopic skin are multifaceted, chronic relapsing inflammatory skin conditions, with a prevalence of 25% in early childhood and 7–10% in adulthood. Sensitive and atopic skin manifest as eczematous skin eruptions with pruritus. The peripheral neurosensorial system is the responsible of itching and burning sensation. These sensations are mainly mediated by a specific receptor expressed in sensory neurons, and skin cells.
Addressing these issues, the novel active ingredient is the first to have a 360º effect over sensory neurons and skin cells:
•	Improvement of the skin barrier function and moisturization
•	Protection against oxidative stress
•	Reduction of the itching sensation
The ingredient operates on the sensory neuron but without side effects, reducing the itch sensation at its source and creating a calming effect.

Active ingredient for reactive and itchy scalp: 
Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis are the major causes of itchy scalp. Seborrheic dermatitis affects from 1 to 5% of global population, while itchy scalp is present in 25% of adult population and 13% of people with chronic itch.
Scratching the itchy scalp leads to redness, scalp desquamation and inflammation. The developed ingredient has been developed to address these scalp conditions:
•	Reduction of inflammation and redness
•	Reduction in scalp desquamation and dandruff reappearance
•	Calms itchy scalp

This ingredient operates on immune cells in the skin, which is the origin of redness and inflammation and additionally acts as a sensory neuron antagonist reducing itch from its origin. Moreover, the regular use of this ingredient as a hair serum provides other benefits like protecting from itchy scalp, reducing dandruff reappearance by decreasing scalp desquamation and flaking.

These two ingredients aim to fill a gap in the market for anti-pruritogenic molecules with additional functions that improve the quality of sensitive skin, such as its calming effect, the improvement of the barrier function and a complementary antioxidant action.

The company is looking for international partners to commercialise these two novel ingredients under distribution services agreements and/or commercial agency agreements.

Advantages:

The Ingredient for skincare includes the following advantages:
•	Designed for sensitive skins
•	Provides itch relief
•	Improves skin barrier
•	Antioxidizing properties
•	Suitable for children use
Ingredient for hair care includes the following advantages:
•	Designed for reactive scalp
•	Provides itch relief
•	Reduces scalp desquamation and dandruff
•	Decreases inflammation and redness
•	Scalp calming

Innovations:

•	The main innovation lies on the different features of these two ingredients, that allows the reduction in the number of ingredients for final formulations, reducing costs and time for product development. 
•	Both ingredients can be formulated in various formats such as cream, body oil and lotion for skin and hair care applications.
•	Additional functions in the sensitive skin; such as calming effect, the improvement of the barrier function and a complementary antioxidant action.
•	They are suitable for both adults and children and account for safety and efficacy results, both in vitro and in vivo.
•	The field of neurocosmeceutics is very underdeveloped and offers a very attractive business opportunity.

The Spanish company is looking for solid partners, to establish reliable relationships, which are willing to commercialise these two novel ingredients under distribution services agreements and/or commercial agency agreements.

Partners sought for distribution services agreements should be distributors, cooperatives or retailers of products in the cosmetic, health and pharmaceutical sectors. They should distribute these ingredients in their specialised networks and to have the Spanish company's ingredients well known in new countries where it is still not present.

Partners interested on commercial agency agreements are sought to promote products sales in exchange of commission. They should present a solid portfolio of contacts to allow the Spanish company to access to new healthcare and cosmetic markets.