SkinBioTherapeutics confirms launch plans for psoriasis supplement

Skin health-focussed life science company SkinBioTherapeutics updated the market on its commercialisation plans for ‘AxisBiotix-Ps’ on Thursday, which it described as its probiotic food supplement to help alleviate the symptoms associated with psoriasis.

The AIM-traded firm said the launch date would be 29 October, which is designated as ‘World Psoriasis Day’.

It said that, following highly-positive results from its consumer study in May, it had progressed the regulatory pathway and commercial strategy for AxisBiotix-Ps.

Key activities included the preparation of and warehousing the finished product, and beginning marketing prior to the upcoming launch, as well as establishing a supply chain.

Through its subsidiary AxisBiotix, SkinBioTherapeutics said it had started receiving and storing finished product at its distribution centre in the Netherlands.

The warehouse is 10,000 square metres, and is located in Boxtel near Eindhoven, which was chosen for its proximity to the company's formulation partner Winclove, and its distribution links to the United States, the UK and the rest of Europe.

Readying of finished product was said to be ahead of schedule for launch.

Commercialisation would begin with a 'soft launch' of AxisBiotix-Ps on World Psoriasis Day,

29 October.

As it had previously announced, commercialisation would start in the UK and the US markets, with sales restricted initially to a limited number of customers from the pre-registration list to ensure a “robust and reliable” supply chain.

Thereafter, access to the e-commerce website would be opened up on a broader basis to the remainder of the waiting list and the wider psoriatic population.

As it said on 19 August, excluding shipping and any duty costs, AxisBiotix-Ps would be marketed on a subscription basis and priced per sachet in the US at $2.00, in the UK at £1.50, and in Europe at €1.80, and sold in boxes containing 28 sachets.

“This is a very exciting moment for SkinBioTherapeutics as we launch our first commercial product on the most important of days for the global psoriasis community,” said chief executive officer Stuart Ashman.

“The overall positive response from participants who identified as having psoriasis to AxisBiotix-Ps was tremendous, and we are very grateful for their continued interest and subsequent support, including their moving written and video testimonials.”

Ashman said the soft launch aspect of the commercial strategy was a “key” element.

“Given the incurable and severe nature of psoriasis and the significant impact on people's lives, we have always said that we would initially release AxisBiotix-Ps on a controlled basis to ensure our distribution systems are robust.

“We want to ensure a continuous supply to our customers at all times.”

At 1453 BST, shares in SkinBioTherapeutics were up 1.04% at 67.7p.