UVR Genetic Susceptibility & DNA Damage Assessment

The increased focus on looking younger coupled with the increase in skin cancer incidence has made it widely accepted that exposure to solar radiation can produce both acute and chronic changes in the skin. Furthermore, research has shown that at a cellular level, solar radiation can produce adverse structural and functional changes in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Mitochondria represent the major site for the generation of cellular oxidative stress and play a key role in mediating programmed cell death (apoptosis). Therefore, damage to mtDNA is an important contributor to human ageing, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases .

Under these conditions the ability to deliver on the ‘genomics era promise’ of personalized prevention, treatment and monitoring regimes based on an individual’s genetic analysis and cellular damage assessment will drive technical innovation and business performance.

What is skinphysical™?

Skinphysical™ is a simple, non-invasive test that determines a person’s:

   1. Genetic predisposition to sun induced DNA damage (genescreen™)
   2.  Level of sun related DNA damage (sunburntDNA™)

The product’s simplicity in collecting DNA allows it to be packaged as a retail product or as a professional product for Dermatologists. Results from the genescreen™ and sunburntDNA™ analysis can be tailored into ‘consumer friendly’ personalized recommendations for sun protection and treatment. Additionally; the information available to Dermatologists offers new insight into diagnosis and new opportunities for selecting treatment regimes and monitoring strategies.

Value Proposition

• Drives a proactive approach to sun related skin care.
• Delivers trustworthy, compelling, and personalized sun protection and treatment regimes and monitoring strategies.
• Retains customers by providing an opportunity to track sun exposure and skin health over time.
• The non-invasive collection procedure allows for parental monitoring of family skin health since childhood sun exposure is linked to melanoma
• Captures unique market insight useful for further product development and marketing claims.
  

Industry Trends

Delivering skinphysical™ to the market correlates to industry trends that are driving market size and share:

• Growing awareness of consumers regarding health matters and wellness.
• Development of innovative beauty products offering care benefits.
• Consumers willing to spend to get products which guarantee effective protection.
  

Armed with the results from skinphysical®, an individual can determine the impact of his or her past sun exposure decision to make appropriate lifestyle choices as well as monitor the level of damage in the future.