ADA, Mich.—Amway and Yale University researcher John Pawelek, entered into an exclusive three-year agreement to research the biological mechanisms underlying skin pigmentation. The long-term research goal is to better understand human skin pigmentation disorders—including hyperpigmentation—and develop innovative, safe and effective therapies for these hard-to-treat and often psychologically painful conditions.
Hyperpigmentation, a skin condition that results in non-uniform coloration on the face and hands, can be caused by sun damage, inflammation or other skin injuries, such as acne. People with darker skin tones, including Asian, Mediterranean and African populations, are more prone to the condition. Hyperpigmentation has been shown to have a considerable psychological impact on sufferers. Although several therapies are available, potentially significant side-effects have been associated with these treatments.
"Hyperpigmentation is difficult to treat, especially in dark-skinned individuals," Pawelek, senior researcher at Yale University, said. "If in-vitro models could be used to screen for potential inhibitors of pigmentation, this would represent a large step forward toward the development of truly effective treatments for this emotionally and socially challenging skin condition."
Skin cancer research led by Pawelek has helped identify several novel aspects of the cell biology of melanocytes, the cells that synthesize the pigment melanin. Yale University and Amway have entered into an agreement with the intent to research and expand on these findings jointly. Initial research will focus on determining whether the unique cell biology of melanoctyes from human melanoma biopsy samples is also present in experimental models, including cell and tissue cultures.
"Through our partnership, we hope to identify new technologies to enhance the performance of our ARTISTRY® whitening products," stated Catherine Ehrenberger, vice president, R&D and quality assurance for Amway. "We are looking forward to continuing our commitment to providing high-quality products that help women achieve their desired complexions."