Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business
Recent Developments
On October 17, 2019, we entered an Exclusive License Agreement with
Quoin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Quoin”)pursuant to which we granted to Quoin a license to certain
patents for the development of products for commercial sale. In exchange for the license, Quoin agreed to pay to us a license fee
of $1,000,000 (the “License Fee”) and a single digit royalty interest of all net sales on the licensed products subject
to adjustment in certain situations. The agreement also requires that Quoin make certain milestone payments to us upon achieving
regulatory approval milestones for certain drug products.
The
agreement is subject to termination, if among other things, 50% of the license fee is not paid by December 31, 2019 and if the
full License Fee is not paid by March 31, 2020. No payments were made by Quoin and the agreement was terminated. Both Parties subsequently
determined that they continue to see the value in a partnership and therefore on May 8, 2020 and again on July 31, 2020 the companies
agreed to extend the Exclusive License Agreement under the same terms to expire on September 30, 2020 ,
and on January 27, 2021 the companies agreed to revise the milestone payments due under the agreement and to extend the agreement
indefinitely. As of December 31, 2020, we have received $125,000 in licensing fee income per this agreement.
On February 3, 2020, we entered into a License Agreement with Ovation
Science Inc. pursuant to which Skinvisible granted to Ovation Science Inc. a license for the manufacture and distribution rights
to its hand sanitizer product, DermSafe. In exchange for the license, Ovation Science Inc. agreed to pay to Skinvisible a royalty
percentage on all net sales on the licensed products subject to adjustment in certain situations plus a license fee payable in
year 3 of the agreement if it chooses to continue the license. On June 10, 2020, the agreement was further amended to provide additional
assignment rights for its hand sanitizer products in exchange for $100,000 which was recognized as revenue during the year ended
December 31, 2020.
Company Overview
We, through our wholly owned subsidiary Skinvisible
Pharmaceuticals Inc., are a pharmaceutical research and development (“R&D”) company that has developed and patented
an innovative polymer delivery system, Invisicare® and formulated over forty topical skin products, which we out-license globally.
We were incorporated in 1998, and target an estimated $80 billion global skincare and dermatology market and a $30 billion global
over-the-counter market as well as other healthcare / medical and consumer goods markets.
With the research and development complete on forty products
and numerous patents issued (technology and product patents), we are ready to monetize our investment. Our business model will
continue to be to out-license our patented prescription and over-the-counter (“OTC”) products featuring Invisicare
to established manufacturers and marketers of brands internationally and to maximize profits from the products we have already
out-licensed.
The opportunity for us to license our products continues to be a
viable model as the need for pharmaceutical companies to access external R&D companies for new products due to their own down-sizing
or elimination of internal R&D departments. The demand for our products is enhanced due to the granting of key US and international
patents and the completed development of a number of unique products.
Our Flagship Product
Pivotal to our success is our patented polymer delivery system technology
Invisicare. Invisicare is a patented polymer delivery system that enhances the delivery of active ingredients for topically applied
skin care products. Its patented technology has a unique formula and process for combining active ingredients with a delivery system
that extends the duration of time the product remains on the skin and active.
3
Table of Contents
Invisicare is specifically formulated to carry water insoluble
active and certain cationic active ingredients in water-based products without the use of alcohol, silicones, waxes, or other organic
solvents. Products utilizing Invisicare have the proven ability to bond active ingredients to the skin for up to four hours and
longer. They are non-occlusive and allow normal skin respiration and perspiration while moisturizing and protecting against exposure
from a wide variety of environmental irritants.
When topically applied, these formulated products adhere to the
skin's outer layers, forming a protective bond, resisting wash-off, and delivering targeted levels of therapeutic or cosmetic skincare
agents to the skin. They allow enhanced delivery performance for a variety of skincare agents resulting in improved efficacy, longer
duration of action, reduced irritation and lower dosage of active agent required. The "invisible" polymer compositions
wear off as part of the natural exfoliation process of the skin's outer layer cells.
The advantage of products formulated with Invisicare is (1) Invisicare’s
ability to bind active ingredients (the drug) to the skin, forming a protective bond on the skin, for extended periods of time;
(2) Invisicare can deliver targeted levels (high or low) of therapeutic or cosmetic ingredients to the skin in a controlled release;
(3) Invisicare can help to reduce the irritation of some active ingredients due to how it controls the slower release of that active
ingredient; and (4) Invisicare science proves that it provides a protective skin barrier which helps retain the natural moisture
content of the skin, while still allowing it to breathe. These benefits present an excellent opportunity for clear scientific advantages
and marketing messages which resonate with physicians and consumers.
The Market
The dermatology market is large, with over 80% of Americans affected
by some kind of skin condition in their lifetime. The worldwide market for dermatology products including prescription, OTC and
cosmeceuticals is estimated at $80 billion.
Company
History
We formed Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Skinvisible”),
in March 1998 and purchased the exclusive worldwide manufacturing and marketing rights for a polymer delivery system invention
now called Invisicare® from the inventor for $2 million. We have continued to develop the Invisicare technology and subsequent
product development resulting in over seven series of Invisicare and over forty unique, patented formulations offering distinctive
benefits that differentiate them significantly from other leading products in the marketplace.
What We Do
We have positioned ourselves in the $80 billion worldwide prescription
and over-the-counter dermatology and skincare market. We generate revenue by:
LICENSING : We develop topical prescription and over-the-counter
products enhanced with Invisicare to license to pharmaceutical and consumer goods companies around the world for an upfront fee
and ongoing royalties;
CO-DEVELOPMENT : We assist pharmaceutical clients in the
early development of the most optimal formulation, which they then take forward into clinical testing;
LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT : We provide cost-effective solutions
to global pharmaceutical companies by reformulating their products coming off patent with a new Invisicare patent and new product
benefits and line extensions. Pharmaceutical companies are under a lot of pressure to develop innovative strategies to counteract
the revenue loss from their drugs coming off patent.
Corporate Ownership
We are a publicly traded company under the symbol SKVI, quoted on
the OTC markets since February 1999 and currently trading on the OTCQB in the United States.
We carry on business primarily through our wholly owned subsidiaries:
Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a Nevada corporation.
4
Table of Contents
Patents
We have patents granted in 11 countries, including comprehensive
patents on Invisicare, the foundation of all of our products; the United States, and internationally in Canada, Europe (4), China,
India, Australia, Hong Kong, and Korea. The Invisicare patents cover manufacturing, composition and use. Additionally, we have
been granted product specific patents in the United States for dermal barrier products, sunscreens (photostability of avobenzone),
retinoids (stabilization), cationic products and acne products.
Our value lies in our ability to continually generate new IP on
dermatology and medical products formulated with Invisicare. Patent approvals are sought (initially in the United States. and later
internationally) for all products developed. All patents with Invisicare are owned by us.
Trademarks
When developing new products using Invisicare, we file for both
patent and trademark protection. We have been granted trademarks in the U.S. and Canada for the following names:
- Skinvisible® w Invisicare® w JUSTCARE® w Kintari®
w Skinbrella®
Revenue generation : We plan to achieve revenues from a combination
of four revenue streams including:
Research and development fees;
Upfront license fee;
Ongoing royalties based on product sales;
Licensees purchase Invisicare polymers from us. The polymers make
up 6-8% of each final product formulation for OTC and cosmetic formulas and less for prescription formulas.
Strategic Growth Opportunities
Our growth strategy is to:
1.
Generate revenue from private label products;
2.
Capitalize on the success of current licensees;
3.
Increase the value of our current pipeline; and
4.
Boost licensing revenues by securing additional licensees globally and develop a robust royalty revenue stream that will finance our future growth.
Private Label Products
Our sunscreen is a broad spectrum SPF 30 known as Skinbrella®.
We completed independent testing to validate our broad spectrum sunscreen claims according to the labeling guidelines of the FDA,
which are designed to help reduce the incidents of skin cancer in the U.S. Our claims are as follows:
Claim # 1 – Broad-Spectrum: According to the FDA, in order
for a sunscreen to be labeled “broad spectrum” it must prove it protects against both UVA and UVB rays by having an
SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15 and a critical wave length of at least 370 nm. Our sunscreen has surpassed both of these
criteria, allowing our broad spectrum sunscreen label to also state “prevents sunburn, skin cancer and aging due to the sun.”
Claim # 2 – Water-Resistant 80 Minutes: The FDA sunscreen
water resistant claim requires that a sunscreen must have the same SPF after being in water or sweating for 40 or 80 minutes. Our
testing was conducted at an independent laboratory specializing in sunscreen testing. The test involved human subjects that applied
sunscreen to their arm, followed by the immersion of the arm into a Jacuzzi for 80 minutes (10 minutes in / 10 minutes out). Our
sunscreen successfully completed this testing and is allowed to use “Water-resistant for 80 Minutes” on its sunscreen
label, the longest length of time allowed by the FDA.
Claim # 3 – Unique Patented Technology / Eight-Hour Photostability:
As previously announced, we were granted a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office entitled “Sunscreen
Composition with Enhanced UVA Absorber Stability and Methods”, which provides protection until November 2029. Skinvisible
successfully formulated a unique Invisicare® delivery system specifically for stabilizing avobenzone; the key sunscreen used
in the USA. Data submitted to the US patent office proved that our sunscreen provides a minimum of eight hours of photostability.
5
Table of Contents
Additional Skinvisible Products
Sunless Tanning Products
We have developed a sunless tanning mousse / foam which uses a unique
foam with Invisicare®, developed specifically for its foaming properties. This adds to Skinvisible’s line of sunless
tanning products which includes sunless tanning lotions (light, medium and dark), pre-sun moisturizer and after-sun moisturizer
along with sunless tanning spray products for commercial use. The addition of a sunless tanning mousse enhances this line of products.
Sunscreen Products
We have developed 3 broad spectrum sunscreens, with SPF 15, 30 and
50 (the highest SPF allowed by the FDA). All are formulated with Avobenzone, the only UVA sun filter allowed under the US FDA monograph.
This UVA/UVB sunscreen was granted a patent from the United States patent office in 2013. Avobenzone is known for breaking down
in the sun after only two hours – thus the requirement to reapply every 2 hours. Skinvisible’s patent was granted based
on Invisicare's® minimum 8 hour photo stability. For countries outside the United States, Skinvisible has additionally patented
UVA/UVB sunscreens formulated with Tinosorb S.
Capitalize On Current Licensees:
We continue to work diligently with our licensees to ensure they
have a smooth manufacturing process, ongoing R&D support and marketing feedback.
Ovation Science Inc.
On February 3, 2020, we entered into a License
Agreement with Ovation Science Inc. pursuant to which Skinvisible granted to Ovation Science Inc. a license for the manufacture
and distribution rights to its hand sanitizer product, DermSafe. In exchange for the license, Ovation Science Inc. agreed to pay
to Skinvisible a single digit royalty interest on all net sales on the licensed products subject to adjustment in certain situations plus
a license fee payable in year 3 of the agreement if it chooses to continue the license.
Women’s Choice Pharmaceuticals
Product: ProCort®, long lasting prescription hemorrhoid cream
launched in the United States August 2011.
Sales and Royalties: Skinvisible receives a royalty based on net
sales of ProCort. Women’s Choice has been successfully growing their sales of ProCort®
Increasing The Value of Skinvisible’s Pipeline:
We have a pipeline of over forty products which are available for
licensing. Testing is conducted in-house generating proof of concept including release of the active ingredient as well as long
term shelf life (stability). Additional studies conducted on specific products including skin sensitivity, toxicity and product
efficacy are outsourced to FDA compliant laboratories. These studies are critical in attracting potential licensees. Our clinical
strategy is to find a partner for our prescription product portfolio. This would allow for a partner to seek FDA approval using
the 505b2 pathway for one or more of our products.
Competition
Market research indicates there is reasonably limited direct
competition for Invisicare and patented products in terms of performance capabilities for topically administered skin products.
Many companies are seeking unique delivery systems to enhance their portfolio and purchasing companies that have delivery technology.
6
Table of Contents
Government Regulation
Cosmetic and Skin Care Regulation
Depending upon product claims and formulation, skin care products
may be regulated as cosmetics, drugs, devices, or combination cosmetics and drugs. The FDA has authority to regulate cosmetics
marketed in the United States under the FDCA and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (“FPLA”) and implementing regulations.
The Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) regulates the advertising of cosmetics under the FTCA.
The FDCA prohibits the marketing of adulterated and misbranded cosmetics.
Cosmetic ingredients must also comply with the FDA’s ingredient, quality, and labeling requirements and the FTC’s requirements
pertaining to truthful and non-misleading advertising. Cosmetic products and ingredients, with the exception of color additives,
are not required to have FDA premarket approval. Manufacturers of cosmetics are also not required to register their establishments,
file data on ingredients, or report cosmetic-related injuries to the FDA.
We will be responsible for substantiating the safety and product
claims of the cosmetic products and ingredients before marketing. The FDA or FTC may disagree with our characterization of one
or more of the skin care products as a cosmetic or the product claims. This could result in a variety of enforcement actions which
could require the reformulation or relabeling of our products, the submission of information in support of the product claims or
the safety and effectiveness of our products, or more punitive action, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our
business. If the FDA determines we have failed to comply with applicable requirements under the FDCA or FPLA, it can impose a variety
of enforcement actions from public warning letters, injunctions, consent decrees, and civil penalties to seizure of our products,
total or partial shutdown of our production, and criminal prosecutions. If any of these events were to occur, it could materially
adversely affect us. If the FTC determines we have failed to substantiate our claims, it can pursue a variety of actions including
disgorgement of profits, injunction from further violative conduct, and consent decrees.
Domestic State and Local Government Regulation
Some states and local governments in the United States regulate
the labeling, operation, sale, and distribution of our skin care products. To the extent additional state or local laws apply,
we intend to comply with them.
Foreign Government Regulation
In general, we will need to comply with the government regulations
of each individual country in which our products are to be distributed and sold. These regulations vary in complexity and can be
as stringent, and on occasion even more stringent, than FDA regulations in the United States. The level of complexity and stringency
is not always precisely understood today for each country, creating greater uncertainty for the international regulatory process.
Furthermore, government regulations can change with little to no notice and may result in up-regulation of our product(s), thereby
creating a greater regulatory burden for us. We have not yet thoroughly explored the applicable laws and regulations that we will
need to comply with in foreign jurisdictions. As a result it is possible that we may not be permitted to sell our products in foreign
markets or expand our business into one or more foreign jurisdictions.
Environmental Laws
We are not subject to any significant or material environmental
regulation in the normal operation of our business.
Employees
Currently, we have two employees, including our CEO Terry Howlett.
Subsidiaries
We conduct our operations through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Skinvisible
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
7
Table of Contents
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.