The technology behind the patent is right in line with certain natural beauty trends that capitalize on the latest science to deliver novel solutions for skin care and cosmetics.
"By utilizing advanced manufacturing technology, our goal was to create a reliable source of highly pure, natural, non-GMO silk protein," says Greg Altman, chief executive officer of Silk Therapeutics, in a media release about the patent. The company is working with that protein in innovative ways.
Encapsulation
The company formulates with silk both for its benefits and for its ability to encapsulate other ingredients. Silk protein is apparently used to enclose actives that will be delivered upon application. According to the company’s website, “silk naturally protects key ingredients so they retain their full potential. When they come in contact with your skin, our active ingredients are rapidly released for penetration throughout the day or in a targeted intense treatment, working wonders to make your routine easy.”
And the patent is a step toward cornering the market on this emerging technology. "Our technology platform will form the basis for products, where silk's unique ability to treat skin as well as stabilize and deliver active ingredients without the use of harsh chemicals and solvents can be leveraged," says Greg Altman, company CEO.
Emerging from the cocoon
The Massachusetts-based company is, from a wider angle, a biotech company. And, it’s intent on finding gaps in personal care and healthcare where this silk technology can be adapted to “eliminate the unnecessary use of unregulated chemicals,” according to the release.
So this will not be a one-off innovation: “The company plans to pursue applications beyond its anti-aging skincare line into other consumer and medical products that can benefit from the inherent safety, effectiveness and performance associated with natural silk.”
Conscientious beauty
The company’s skin care products are formulated to be mild enough for oncology patients to use. And like many niche brands today, Silk Therapeutics has a charitable mission, promising to “provide our clean, luxury skincare to an oncology patient, with every purchase.”
According to the brand story, this is all inspired by the company’s chief operating officer Rebecca Horan, Chief Operating Officer, herself a cancer survivor. It’s a story that clicks for investors.
“Silk Therapeutics’ goal of creating a line of products safe enough for patients undergoing cancer treatment immediately resonated with my family,” Daniel A. Kraft, executive vice president of The Kraft Group, told the press when that private equity firm led the company’s Series 1A funding early this year.
This article was updated on 11-Nov-2015 to reflect that Silk Therapeutics was granted a patent rather than having simply filed an application, as first reported. For more details from Cosmetics Design on this technology, read State-of-the-art silk protein patent granted.