As consumers are increasingly more mindful about what they are putting on their skin, personal care and pharmaceutical companies have been actively innovating through various technologies to meet consumers’ skincare needs and stay ahead of the game. JAH Tech, a local start-up that manages private companies’ deep tech research and its applications in our everyday environment, is no different.
In June 2019, Tan Chong Hui, CEO of JAH Tech, sought IPI’s help to look for a commercialisation partner that could put their new compound’s properties to the test for skincare applications. The new ingredient, SanitatemAlpha comprises super carbon nanoparticles that could be applied to cosmetics products.
Following in-depth discussions with JAH Tech about their technology, IPI identified Denova Sciences as a potential collaborator for them. A start-up from National Technological University, Denova Sciences’ expertise is in non-animal testing for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries by using in-vitro 3D human organ models and cutting-edge technologies.JAH Tech and Denova Sciences signed a collaboration agreement in August 2019, before commencing an in-depth assessment of JAH Tech’s compound’s functional efficacy for five key properties – non-irritant, anti-ageing, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant and skin whitening. Pleased with the encouraging initial test results, Tan hopes to incorporate SanitatemAlpha into a new skincare product, which could increase JAH Tech’s revenue stream within the next three years.
“IPI’s proactive approach in matching JAH Tech and Denova Sciences has enabled us to significantly reduce our commercialisation time frame. We have gained independent scientific reports that verified the potency and efficacy of SanitatemAlpha with clear industry-specific tests through this collaboration. Additional effects of our product were also uncovered in the process, which are possible breakthrough applications in multiple pharmacological treatments,” Tan shared.
SanitatemAlpha has since been successfully incorporated into different cosmetic and skincare products found in Asian countries like China, Korea and Singapore. In addition, JAH Tech and Denova Sciences have expanded their scope of partnership in April 2020 to explore other potential application areas such as wound healing products.
As consumer awareness about skincare ingredients grows, personal care and pharmaceutical companies face mounting pressure to innovate and deliver products that are both effective and safe. JAH Tech, committed to staying at the forefront of this competitive landscape, developed a novel compound—SanitatemAlpha—comprising super carbon nanoparticles intended for use in cosmetics. However, the company faced significant hurdles in validating the efficacy and safety of this new ingredient for skincare applications. Without independent scientific validation and industry-specific testing, JAH Tech risked delayed market entry and missed opportunities to differentiate its products. The company needed to demonstrate that SanitatemAlpha offered tangible benefits such as being non-irritant, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and skin whitening. Additionally, finding a credible commercialisation partner with the technical expertise to conduct rigorous, non-animal testing was critical to ensure regulatory compliance and consumer trust. JAH Tech’s challenge was not only to prove the compound’s effectiveness but also to accelerate the commercialisation process, reduce time-to-market, and unlock new revenue streams in the highly competitive skincare sector.
IPI Singapore facilitated a strategic partnership by identifying and matching JAH Tech with Denova Sciences, a start-up specialising in non-animal testing for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Through IPI’s Innovation Marketplace and proactive engagement, JAH Tech was introduced to a collaborator with deep expertise in in-vitro 3D human organ models and advanced testing technologies, ensuring that SanitatemAlpha could be rigorously evaluated for its intended applications. Following the collaboration agreement signed in August 2019, JAH Tech and Denova Sciences embarked on an in-depth assessment of SanitatemAlpha’s functional efficacy across five key properties: non-irritant, anti-ageing, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, and skin whitening. The partnership enabled JAH Tech to obtain independent scientific reports that verified the compound’s potency and efficacy through industry-specific tests. Encouraged by the positive results, JAH Tech was able to accelerate plans to incorporate SanitatemAlpha into new skincare products, with the potential to expand its revenue streams and explore breakthrough applications in pharmacological treatments.
"IPI’s proactive approach in matching JAH Tech and Denova Sciences has enabled us to significantly reduce our commercialisation time frame. We have gained independent scientific reports that verified the potency and efficacy of SanitatemAlpha with clear industry-specific tests through this collaboration. Additional effects of our product were also uncovered in the process, which are possible breakthrough applications in multiple pharmacological treatments."
JAH Tech is a Singapore-based start-up that manages deep tech research for private companies and applies advanced technologies to everyday environments. The company focuses on developing innovative compounds for use in personal care and pharmaceutical products.