Saving face
The first battleground in Sirona Biochem’s fight against aging is the mirror.
The Vancouver-based company is developing anti-aging products based on the antifreeze produced by an Antarctic fish to protect and regenerate human skin, says Attila Hajdu, the company’s chief business development officer.
“Everyone looks in the mirror. If we help make them happier with what they see then we’re improving their lives,” Hajdu says.
The chemical compounds that Sirona has synthesized based on the fish’s glyco-proteins go beyond their power to lighten skin and protect it from the impact of age and sun damage.
The synthesized compounds’ cell-preserving powers also mean they can be used in organ and tissue transplants, Hajdu says.
The company has licensed its compounds to companies around the world in return for fees and royalty payments.
Sirona, which began in 2009, employs 15 people and trades on the TSX venture and Frankfurt stock exchanges.
It conducts research at a laboratory in France.