Greenville-based Zylö Therapeutics has announced the creation of a spinoff company, Atticus Pharma Inc., to market its Z-pod topical delivery platform in the pharmaceutical industry. The Z-pod technology, licensed from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is based on silica-derived particles that can embed an active ingredient for sustained delivery.
Atticus Pharma Inc. has entered into a joint development agreement with Yuva Biosciences, obtaining exclusive worldwide rights to YuvaBio’s Y20, a terminalia chebula extract. Y20 has shown promise in the treatment of alopecia-related conditions and wound healing. Atticus Pharma Inc. will leverage the Z-pod delivery technology to enhance the efficacy and duration of the treatment.
Scott Pancoast, founder and CEO of Zylö Therapeutics and executive chairman of Atticus Pharma Inc., expressed optimism about the spinoff company’s potential. He stated, “By focusing on the biopharma applications of the Z-pod drug-delivery platform, Atticus can be a real force in the topical drug arena and can drive significant value for its shareholders.”
Yuva Biosciences, the partner company in the joint development agreement, has developed Y20 based on innovative mitochondrial biogenesis. The company’s scientists, considered global thought leaders in mitochondrial dysfunction, published a seminal paper in Cell Death & Disease titled “Reversing wrinkled skin and hair loss in mice by restoring mitochondrial function.”
Using artificial intelligence, Yuva Biosciences screened approximately 15,000 compounds to identify those that most effectively restored mitochondrial function. Embedding these compounds into Z-pods demonstrated a durable and lasting effect of up to 24 hours, as opposed to a short-term effect without the Z-pods.
Based on data from these studies, BosleyMD launched its product Revive+ Hair Densifying Foam, which is available in major retail stores. The foam, powered by Z-pods, has shown an 80% success rate after 90 days of use, according to a human study.
While Atticus Pharma Inc. will initially focus on the joint development agreement with Yuva Biosciences and the marketing of Y20-loaded Z-pods, the company has plans for further expansion. It aims to in-license other programs, either from Zylö Therapeutics or other biopharma entities, to broaden its product portfolio and expertise in the pharmaceutical vertical.
With its innovative Z-pod technology, Atticus Pharma Inc. aims to be a major player in the topical drug arena and create value for its shareholders. The spinoff company is well-positioned to make significant advancements in the field of topical drug delivery and contribute to the advancement of pharmaceutical treatments.
