Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business
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. The Company is also exploring new opportunities
in large medical markets outside of the dermatology market such as obesity and other potential markets where a topical or transdermal
solution would be a viable alternative.
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 downsizing 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.
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.
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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.
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.
License Agreement with Quoin
On October 17, 2019, we entered an Exclusive
License Agreement with Quoin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Quoin”) pursuant to which we granted Quoin a
license to certain patents for the development of products for commercial sale. In exchange for the license, Quoin paid us a license fee
of one million USD dollars (USD
$1,000,000) (the “License Fee”)
and will additionally pay 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 a milestone payment of $5 million to us upon achieving the first to occur of either FDA or
European Union regulatory approval for one product licensed.
In addition, and upon the successful approval
in the US or European Union, whichever occurs first, Skinvisible is entitled to receive a single digit royalty percentage of Quoins net
sales revenues for any licensed product covered by the patent rights licensed under the License Agreement. Plus, Quoin also agreed to
pay Skinvisible 25% of any revenues we receive as royalties in the event that we sublicense any licensed products to a third party.
On June 6, 2022, the Company announced
that its licensee Quoin and its product QRX003, was the first Invisicare delivery technology product to receive U.S. FDA Acceptance of
Investigational New Drug Application and that Quoin was actively working towards obtaining necessary FDA and other regulatory approvals
for marketing the product in the United States and other countries.
On February 14, 2024, the Company
announced that there was significant progress in Quoin's clinical trials for product formulations containing Invisicare targeting Netherton
Syndrome. The trials focus on the innovative formulation "QRX003," powered by Skinvisible’s Invisicare® proprietary
drug delivery technology. The updates include:
• Positive
Initial Data and Clean Safety Profile: The trials have demonstrated positive initial data
and a clean safety profile, leading to the implementation of an optimization plan.
• Optimization
Plan Implementation: Quoin has increased the size of both clinical trials significantly and
adjusted dosing frequency to twice-daily from once-daily for both trials.
• Elimination
of Lower Dose: In the blinded trial, a lower dose has been eliminated based on the positive
outcomes observed.
• Protocol
Amendment s: Quoin's press release highlights protocol
amendments aimed at enhancing the data set and potentially expediting regulatory approval.
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We believe these protocol amendments could
ultimately result in the generation of a highly compelling data set, which could support regulatory filings and approval for QRX003 as
the first treatment for Netherton Syndrome.
On March 4, 2024
Quoin announced a further milestone: it received FDA Clearance to recruit teen subjects into both ongoing Netherton Syndrome clinical
studies. We believe this announcement is important as:
• Clearance
to include teen patients in both Quoin’s open label and placebo-controlled studies
are expected to significantly expand the number of eligible subjects, potentially expedite
recruitment and lead to a more robust data set.
• This development represents the first ever inclusion
of non-adult subjects in Netherton Syndrome clinical studies conducted under an open Investigational New Drug Application.
• It is believed that the inclusion of this patient
population in Quoin’s studies will be a critical component of the development of a robust data set that could result in regulatory
approval with a broad label as QRX003 is being tested both as monotherapy and in conjunction with off-label treatments.
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.
Nevertheless, our current and potential
competitors may have longer operating histories, significantly greater resources and name recognition, and a larger base of customers
than we have. Our competitors may also be able to adopt more aggressive pricing policies and devote greater resources to the development,
marketing and sale of their products and services than we can. To be competitive, we must continue to invest significant resources in
sales and marketing. We may not have sufficient resources to make these investments or to develop the technological advances necessary
to be competitive, which in turn will cause our business to suffer and restrict our profitability potential.
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.
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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,
except for 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 Director
and CEO Terry Howlett.
Subsidiaries
We conduct our operations through our wholly owned subsidiary,
Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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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.