Skin, our body’s largest organ, plays a vital role in protecting us from the environment, regulating temperature, and fostering self-confidence. Yet, a multitude of conditions can compromise its health. Fortunately, the field of dermatology is experiencing a surge of innovation, with companies are spearheading to develop solutions that are transforming skin health in 2024.
NeuEsse is at the forefront of skin repair with its innovative technology centered around OmegaSkin™, a human skin substitute made entirely from soy protein. This all-natural, plant-based product boasts published research demonstrating its ability to heal full-thickness wounds without scarring. Its regenerative properties promote healing with intact hair follicles and sweat glands.
A Revolution in Skin Repair
NeuEsse, a medical technology company, strives to improve the lives of people with damaged or ageing skin. They recognize that skin is susceptible to injury and requires repair throughout life. From treating severe burns and wounds to repairing skin after biopsies or cosmetic procedures, NeuEsse aims to address these challenges.
Their innovative solution is OmegaSkin™, a human skin substitute made from readily available soy protein. Unlike competing therapies, it eliminates the need for complex laboratory preparation, refrigeration, or other logistical hurdles. This novel scaffold dressing is designed to improve healing outcomes and quality of life for patients suffering from wounds, burns, ulcers, and other skin injuries. Ultimately, NeuEsse’s mission is to alleviate the burden of damaged, diseased, traumatised, and ageing skin for millions of people.
NeuEsse’s technology extends beyond wound care, targeting unmet needs in dermatology and aesthetics. OmegaSkin™ can be used for procedures like biopsies, Mohs surgery, post-laser treatment, mole removal, and breast reconstruction, offering a versatile solution for various skin repair needs.
A Green Solution for Advanced Wound Care
OmegaSkin™, environmentally friendly technology offers a significant advancement over traditional post-laser ablation treatments, which often rely on petroleum-based products like Vaseline or Aquaphor. NeuEsse envisions readily available, anatomically correct facial sheets made from OmegaSkin™ specifically designed for post-laser ablation repair kits. These sheets could be easily applied to accelerate healing, promote rejuvenation, and enhance skin elasticity after treatment.
NeuEsse’s commitment to innovation extends beyond wound care. They have developed a handheld electro-spinner that allows physicians to deliver liquid skin directly to the treatment area without touching the patient. This device offers additional functionality by delivering hyaluronic acid and anti-wrinkle compounds, making it a valuable asset for dermatologists seeking to enhance their treatment options.
The Future of Skin Repair
NeuEsse’s dedication to continuous advancement is further evidenced by ongoing research collaborations with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. This research aims to validate OmegaSkin™ as the perfect platform technology for delivering stem cells and growth factors. This breakthrough holds immense promise for developing a “whole new armamentarium” for treating a vast array of skin conditions.
NeuEsse, a pioneering company in skin repair technology, has prioritised research and development, strategically allocating available funds to advance its innovative solutions. With anticipated FDA approval by the end of the year, NeuEsse is currently engaged in a seed-plus funding round. This capital infusion will fuel the further development of their comprehensive dermatology line, encompassing both treatment and aesthetic applications.
The Rise of “Skin Gun”
Being committed to continuous improvement, NeuEsse is planning a redesign of their handheld electro-spinner, prioritising a refined aesthetic that enhances user experience for clinicians. Ultimately, the company aspires to establish a strong presence in dermatology by equipping examination rooms with their advanced technology, envisioned as the “skin gun” of the future.
Beyond cosmetics, NeuEsse’s solutions can be useful in various surgical procedures. Their technology can be applied in minor procedures like mole removal or skin biopsies, as well as in larger surgeries such as cyst removal, breast reconstruction, and MOHS surgery.
For these procedures, NeuEsse has developed a hand-held electrospinner that can deliver liquid skin, hyaluronic acid, and a variety of other therapies to aid in treatments. This technology offers promise for a new era in skin repair and treatment.
Leading Through Adversity
Joseph P. Connell, CEO of NeuEsse, has always employed a collaborative leadership style throughout his 40-year career in the life sciences industry. Presently, he faces the challenge of severe underfunding, which makes this question particularly complex. With no paid employees, he heavily relies on his five scientific advisors, whose advice and wisdom are invaluable.
Connell’s career has spanned managing large teams and building new companies, including NeuEsse, where the entire staff could fit into a Ford Taurus. In times of scarce resources and a small leadership team, he believes it is essential to convince others of the mission and depend on their support to achieve it. His leadership philosophy has consistently focused on treating people fairly to avoid becoming a negative topic of conversation at their family dinners for being a poor leader.
From Wrinkles to Reconstruction
NeuEsse develops solutions to address various skin conditions. Their flagship product, OmegaSkin™, is a human skin substitute made from soy protein. This technology offers a new option for dermatologists treating a wide range of skin ailments.
The solutions of the company extend to the cosmetic dermatology field as well. They offer dermatologists an all-natural, plant-based skin patch and a liquid sprayable skin treatment specifically designed to address cosmetic concerns such as wrinkles, birthmarks, and scarring. These treatments are said to promote repair, rejuvenation, and healing with greater elasticity than currently available therapies.
Unmatched Effectiveness
Studies have shown that OmegaSkin™ heals full-thickness wounds with minimal to no scarring, demonstrating its unparalleled efficacy. This soy protein-based skin substitute is regenerative, promoting the growth of functional hair follicles and sweat glands after healing. This represents a significant advancement over traditional occlusive dressings, which often leave patients with thick scars. To ensure patient safety and effectiveness, OmegaSkin™ has undergone comprehensive evaluation for safety, biocompatibility, and efficacy. This paves the way for future FDA approval.
Connell is optimistic about its future acceptance and success for patients, given the promising results from animal testing. The research has demonstrated improved efficacy and appearance through OmegaSkin’s regenerative properties in animal models. With a commercial launch anticipated in the first quarter of 2025, Connell looks forward to numerous success stories showcasing the positive impact of OmegaSkin on patients’ lives.
Patient-Centred Approach
OmegaSkin™ stands out in the crowded wound healing market due to its favourable availability, affordability, and broad patient acceptance. Unlike other skin substitutes, it is readily available off-the-shelf, eliminating the need for refrigeration, special handling, or laboratory preparation that can hinder application. This translates to increased accessibility for both patients and healthcare providers, with storage unaffected by temperature fluctuations.
Furthermore, OmegaSkin™ boasts significant cost advantages. Production is considerably less expensive compared to animal-derived or cadaver-based substitutes, which require complex processes like decellularization, sterilisation, and packaging. Despite its affordability, OmegaSkin™ falls under the same reimbursement codes as its more expensive counterparts, making it a financially attractive option for dermatologists.
The product addresses ethical and religious concerns. Traditional skin substitutes sourced from pigs, cows, or cadavers may be incompatible with certain religious beliefs or cultural practices. OmegaSkin™, derived from natural plant-based materials, offers a more widely accepted alternative for these patients.
Dermatology’s Next Breakthrough
Connell identifies several challenges currently facing the dermatology industry, including an ageing population, reimbursement issues, and an ever-increasing demand for services. NeuEsse is diligently working to make OmegaSkin an FDA-approved tool for dermatology practices. Their efforts are focused on ensuring that OmegaSkin is affordable, acceptable, and profitable. Connell is optimistic that these efforts will soon result in the availability of soy protein skin for dermatological use.
Dermatology, a field constantly seeking advancements, is witnessing a rise in demand for procedures beyond creams and lasers, particularly as the population ages and desires a more youthful appearance. NeuEsse recognizes this shift and is actively exploring the incorporation of stem cells and growth factors into their existing skin patch and sprayable skin technologies.
Beyond Wound Healing
Ongoing research at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh is investigating OmegaSkin™’s potential as the ideal platform for delivering stem cells and growth factors. The publication of this data is anticipated to propel NeuEsse beyond wound healing and into the realm of advanced skin rejuvenation.
Furthermore, NeuEsse is developing a third-generation skin substitute featuring patented porous gradients. This innovative design offers a more regenerative solution compared to their first-generation OmegaSkin patches. The porous gradients will facilitate enhanced cell infiltration, promoting even greater skin rejuvenation.
A Vision for Comprehensive Skin
NeuEsse’s primary focus lies in demonstrating OmegaSkin™’s efficacy in healing, flexibility, and affordability across various dermatological applications, encompassing surgical procedures, aesthetic enhancements, and general skin repair. Their ambition is to establish OmegaSkin™ as the go-to solution for dermatologists and surgeons alike, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and a more aesthetically pleasing healing process.
Furthermore, NeuEsse is actively exploring the potential of incorporating various therapeutic agents directly into their skin substitute. This includes wrinkle-reducing compounds, antifungals, stem cells, and antibiotics. By expanding their product portfolio with these integrated functionalities, NeuEsse aims to empower dermatologists to deliver the ultimate level of skin care to their patients.
Building a Disruptive Force in Skin Care
NeuEsse offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs in the competitive world of dermatology. Their core message emphasises the importance of true disruption. In a market saturated with existing solutions, simply offering a “me-too” product presents a significant challenge. The company also highlights the critical role of a strong team and adequate funding. The development of OmegaSkin™ faced delays due to bootstrapping, a strategy of financing a business with limited external funding. This experience underscores the importance of securing sufficient resources upfront to ensure a smooth and timely launch.
