The UNSW researchers have developed a new anti-aging ingredient known as GGC, which is expected to be available in skin products from early next year.
The UNSW researchers have developed a new anti-aging ingredient known as GGC, which is expected to be available in skin products from early next year.
GGC is a precursor for an effective antioxidant known as Glutathione that has a broad range of potential health benefits. Glutathione is the body's key defense for detoxifying harmful compounds implicated in cancer, diabetes, aging and other diseases and degenerative conditions.After nine years in development, UNSW researchers Dr Wallace Bridge and Dr Martin Zarka have established a new, cost-effective process for manufacturing GGC, which has been licensed to pharmaceutical company, Biospecialties Australia. A newly expanded manufacturing plant at Mayfield, near Newcastle, will produce GGC.
It is expected that GGC will be used as an active ingredient in foods, health care, toothpastes, dietary supplements and cosmetics as well as in skin repair anti-aging creams.
Natural dietary sources of GGC are available, including milk whey protein and garlic. However, GGC is present only in relatively dilute concentrations. This new, pure GGC product will potentially allow for more efficacious dosages and product formulations.
Given the rapidly increasing interest in Glutathione, it is likely a pure GGC supplement would have significant market potential. The Australian nutraceutical market is currently worth $1bn and generates exports of $200m.
Biospecialties Australia P/L is a licensee of New South Innovations (NSi), which provides technology transfer services to UNSW. The company received a federal government Commercial Ready grant of $1.1m in May this year to assist in bringing GGC to market for use in foods, health care and cosmetics.
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Source-Eurekalert
SRI
