TechNZ funds for high-performance organic skincare

Science funding for high-performance organic skincare

Wellington-based skincare company Antipodes Ltd has been awarded significant TechNZ funding to develop a suite of new organic skincare products with the lucrative anti-aging market in mind.

TechNZ is the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology’s business investment programme, and the funding, to be matched dollar for dollar by the company, will be used to employ scientific experts for the research and development process.

Antipodes chief executive officer Elizabeth Barbalich says that the scientific validation of products is a key point of difference.

“Science and research is our number one priority—and a selling point. We will be one of the first companies to produce scientifically-validated anti-ageing products made from certified organic, unique New Zealand ingredients,” Ms Barbalich says.

Elizabeth Hopkins, sector director for bio-commerce investments at the Foundation says that Antipodes is taking an impressively scientific approach to the development of their new products.

“Antipodes have prioritised the need for robust results in their research and development process. They have identified the market advantage in producing anti-ageing products that are organic and sourced from natural ingredients, that also stand up to robust scientific scrutiny”

The company will combine laboratory-based in-vitro trials with human clinical trials to investigate new product formulas using New Zealand-sourced bioactive-botanical ingredients. They also intend to publish the results of these studies.

“Some brands prefer a fast commercial approach, but we are committed to long term results and longevity in the market,’ Ms Barbalich says.

Established in 2006, Antipodes Ltd employs five staff at its Newtown, Wellington premises. The company has previously employed Crown research institute HortResearch Ltd, among other research organisations, to investigate new New Zealand native plant extracts for use in their products.

Scientific results for an Antipodes® night cream which features manuka honey and an antioxidant from Marlborough grape seeds called Vinanza Grape® shows that it stimulates synthesis of collagen production in human fibroblast skin cells by up to an impressive 92 percent*. Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue, giving skin a plumped-up, firm and youthful appearance.
There are 19 products in the Antipodes® range, which is exported to South Korea, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Slovenia and Australia.
* Independent blind study clinical investigation: Investigation into the Effects of Antipodes Products on the Production of Collagen by Human Skin Fibroblasts in Culture, Trinity Bioactives (2009)

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