Located in Saskatchewan, Fytokem specializes in discovering and commercializing plant extracts and related ingredients from the flora native to the Canadian prairies.
Unipex’s vice president of market development Antiono Lara explained that the company has been working in partnership with Fytokem since 2002 and has a number of products resulting from the collaboration already on the market.
“We have two ingredients families, the Tyrostat and the Canadian Willowherb, representing about 10 ingredients in total, which are the result of a partnership with Fytokem.”
However, post acquisition Unipex now has access to Fytokem’s library containing over 400 plant extracts.
Potential cosmetic ingredients identified
“Of these 400 we have identified 10 or 15 that are good potentials, particularly for the personal care industry,” Lara told CosmeticsDesign.com.
Other end users could include nutraceutical products manufacturers, the pharmaceutical industry and bio-industrial products, according to the company.
Ingredients backed by clinical studies
The ingredients identified as potential are those already backed up by some clinical data to support certain potential uses. According to Lara, the other 380 have not yet been tested.
“We really cannot tell at this point how many ingredients will be commercialized and reach the market,” he said.
According to Unipex CEO, Charles Boulanger, the acquisition is also a way for the company to respond to growing consumer desire for safe and effective natural products.
“This transaction enriches our expertise in plant extraction, secures our supply, and provides Unipex Innovations with access to significant potential for innovation and R&D based on a database of over 400 plant extracts,” he said.