Specialty antimicrobial research and development company Syntopix (AIM: SYN) took another step closer to commercialising a new product targeting a large consumer healthcare market, reporting good results from the trials of its new compound for the treatment of acneic skin, a condition that affects 85% of the population during their lifetime.

Over the course of the trials, formulations using the Syntopix dermatological compound SYN0126 alone or in combination with the lipid-targeted antioxidant SYN0854, outperformed a marketed cosmetic product containing 2% salicylic acid, producing a 30% mean reduction in total spot count over an eight week period.

The reduction in non-inflamed spots for both of the Syntopix formulations approached the efficacy seen with a number of topical prescription treatments. In contrast, the negative control group managed a mean reduction in non-inflamed spots of just 9.8% whilst the group using the marketed product (positive control) recorded a 7.8% mean increase.

The company believes the positive study results have put it closer to commercialising the product with discussions with potential clients already in place.

“This study confirms that our rigorous screening programme is yielding results.  We are now actively pursuing discussions with leading cosmetic and consumer healthcare companies to investigate the possibility of securing a licensing agreement for SYN0126 and are confident that the positive results from this study will lead to commercial deals in the near future,” said chief executive of Syntopix, Stephen Jones.

A further Phase II cosmetic study is set to take place in the second half of 2010.

Syntopix simultaneously released a business update, announcing its intention to focus on its three most advances compounds, SYN0126, SYN1113 and SYN0017 to accelerate their commercialisation, while continuing its screening programme to identify antimicrobial compounds for use in over-the-counter (OTC) and cosmetic products, particularly those used in skin care, oral care and chewing gum.

The company added that it continued to develop a strong working relationship with Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and was in close collaboration to develop antimicrobials for use in an undisclosed “major consumer healthcare brand” and that it has renewed its exclusivity and evaluation agreement with another “major consumer healthcare company,” announced back in April. Syntopix has also secured its tenth UK patent to protect the SYN0126 compound.