The Burrill Report


Thanks to biotechnology, consumers around the world may soon be able to erase the fine lines and wrinkles that define an aging face. Solazyme, an algae biofuels developer, is entering the cosmetics market with Algenist, a new line of microalgae-based anti-aging products, which will be available in the United States and seven European countries at Sephora stores and through home shopping network QVC.

Solazyme bills itself as a renewable oil and bioproducts company. The South San Francisco-based company started its business in 2004 with the idea of developing biofuels from algae, growing its genetically engineered microorganisms in closed tanks. It was a heady time for algae—the promise of a renewable fuel that harnessed the power of the sun and didn’t depend on farmland. Microalgae produced prodigious amounts of oil that could be made directly into biodiesel. Soon the sector attracted a slew of venture investors, oil companies, the military and aviation industries, and even Bill Gates, who invested in a $100 million round for Solazyme’s competitor Sapphire Energy.

But Solazyme and other advanced biofuels developers soon came to realize that making money on biofuels was going to take some time. What worked in the lab was difficult to reproduce in commercial volumes. It’s one thing to produce a few gallons of oil and quite another to produce the millions of gallons required for it to be successfully substituted for petroleum-based transportation fuels.

Without abandoning the biofuel strategy, many advanced biofuels companies have refocused to use their technology to produce high value renewable chemicals and bioproducts. Solazyme has been a leader in pursuing revenue opportunities in other sectors, having signed deals in 2010 to supply its oils to consumer products giant Unilever for use in soaps and to food ingredient maker Roquette Freres.

In cosmetics however, Solazyme has decided to launch the products itself. Its Algenist anti-aging skincare products are formulated with alguronic acid, discovered unexpectedly by Solazyme’s scientists while studying thousands of microalgae strains for renewable energy solutions. When researched for potential anti-aging benefits, alguronic acid demonstrated significant rejuvenating properties.

The big question is will it work? Algenist is billed as prestige—meaning pricey. Fast Company reports that in a third-party study to affirm its effectiveness the difference in before and after pictures was impressive. As an aging woman, the jury is still out for me, although I admit to being curious and may try it. Up to now, despite the claims of umpteen cosmeticians touting their particular prestige brands, I’ve found that the only thing that really works is looking in the mirror without my eyeglasses.




March 11, 2011
http://www.burrillreport.com/article-smoothing_fine_lines_and_wrinkles.html