Rion Aesthetics Rolls Out Refillable Packaging for Exosome Serums
Rion Aesthetics’ refillable packaging is made from 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic with most elements 100% ready for recycling.
“The redesigned bottles embody simplicity and functionality, aiming to add consumer-friendly innovation while minimizing the environmental footprint traditionally associated with skincare purchases,” says Alisa Lask, the CEO of Rion Aesthetics, in a news release. “With (plated), users can now enjoy the transformative benefits of platelet-derived exosomes in an easy-to-use refill that meets their needs.”
SciBase CEO Shares Plans for Future
In a letter to shareholders, SciBase CEO Pia Renaudin gave an update on his first 100 days and shared a roadmap for SciBase’s future. He wrote:
“Establishing Nevisense as the standard of care in the U.S. market is my primary objective. This market accounts for three-quarters of our addressable market making it the territory with the highest potential. With the success in Germany, we have shown that Nevisense is an attractive and commercially viable product, which today generates a positive cash flow for the Group. Ahead of an expansive phase of scaling up sales in the US, we are working intensively to secure broad reimbursement for the Nevisense procedure from additional payers. This goal is at the forefront of our strategic initiatives.
Together with our expert advisor, Pinnacle Health Group, we have developed a clear and efficient reimbursement strategy. This has already led to two Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), active across 13 states, adopting routine reimbursement for the use of Nevisense. As we now accelerate our efforts, they are reinforced by the endorsement of key opinion leaders and collaborations with premier dermatology networks across several states.
We have strengthened the U.S. team with the appointment of Dan Walker as the head of our new talented employees, positioning us to effectively generate reimbursement claims across all major states. Once we achieve reimbursement coverage for approximately half the patient population in a state, our strategy will pivot from reimbursement to scaling up sales. By the end of 2024, I anticipate we will implement this strategic shift, state by state.”
Castle Biosciences’ COO Named Top 25 Women Leaders in Biotechnology by The Healthcare Technology Report
Castle Biosciences, Inc.’s Chief Operating Officer Kristen Oelschlager is one of the Healthcare Technology Report’s Top 25 Women Leaders in Biotechnology of 2023.
“I am immensely proud of Kristen for earning this designation,” says Derek Maetzold, president and chief executive officer of Castle Biosciences, in a news release. “As one of our company’s founders, Kristen has been invaluable to the success of our organization. To be honored among the nation’s elite women leaders in biotechnology is a testament to her fortitude and tenacious leadership.”
Ms. Oelschlager joined Castle Biosciences in 2008 as the executive director of operations, being promoted to vice president of clinical operations in 2013, senior vice president of clinical operations in 2018, and to her current role of chief operating officer in 2021. She is one of the company’s three founders, alongside President and CEO, Derek Maetzold, and Chief Commercial Officer, TobyJuvenal.
On the Horizon: New Eco-Friendly Facial Sheet Mask
A new eco-friendly facial sheet mask moisturizes without plastics and preservatives.
Facial sheet masks are commonly made with plastic backing fabrics and are packaged with wet ingredients, requiring preservatives and disposable water-tight pouches. By contrast, the new dry-packaged hydrating facial mask is made of biobased and sustainable materials.
How did they do it? The researchers developed a facial mask with a sheet of plant-based polylactic acid (PLA), which could repel water, and they coated it in a layer of gelatin mixed with hyaluronic acid and green tea extract. They deposited the top layer as either tiny fibers or microspheres, using electrospinning or electrospray, respectively, and tested how well the masks could transfer moisture.
Here’s what they found:
Water droplets did not pass through the masks without skin contact, regardless of which side a water droplet was placed on.
Contact with skin initiated one-way water transport from PLA to gelatin to skin, but only for masks coated with gelatin-based microspheres.
Placing the mask on moistened, rather than dry, skin improved water delivery through the mask.
Finally, the team investigated how its mask’s ingredients impacted mouse cells as a proxy for reactions on skin. Fewer cells showed signals of aging when grown on the mask compared with cells grown in control conditions; the researchers attribute this to the antioxidant properties of the green tea extracts.
The team says the beneficial properties of the natural ingredients and the one-way moisture-delivery design make this mask a promising alternative with a lesser environmental impact compared to traditional, wet-packed products.
The study appears in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
AVITA Medical, Stedical Scientific Team Up to Commercialize PermeaDerm
AVITA Medical, Inc. has entered into an exclusive multi-year distribution agreement with Stedical Scientific, Inc. to commercialize PermeaDerm Biosynthetic Wound Matrix in the United States.
PermeaDerm is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration as a transparent matrix for use in the treatment of a variety of wound types until healing is achieved.
PermeaDerm is a biosynthetic matrix that facilitates wound healing while also providing a high level of permeability and biocompatibility. For burn or wound procedures treated with Spray-On Skin Cells from the RECELL System, PermeaDerm can be applied to further aid in healing. PermeaDerm is eligible for reimbursement in the U.S. across inpatient and outpatient settings.
