Clinical Study Finds Kinetin + Niacinamide Combination Reverses Many Signs Of Facial Aging

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 17 Jan 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Senetek PLC (OTC Bulletin Board: SNTKY), a life sciences product development company targeting the science of aging, today announced the results of a clinical study conducted at the National Taiwan University Hospital, which demonstrate that Kinetin, Senetek's powerful antioxidant compound - when combined with niacinimide, a B complex vitamin - can effectively reverse many signs of facial aging in Asians.

The double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled clinical trial was conducted over twelve weeks starting on February 16, 2006 at The Center for Anti-aging and Health Consultation of the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei, Republic of China, under the sponsorship of Panion & BF Biotech Inc. (TPE: 1760), Senetek's Kinetin licensee for Taiwan and The Peoples' Republic of China.

Researchers selected 52 healthy Taiwanese female (91 percent) and male (9 percent) subjects whose ages ranged from 30 to 60. Enrolled subjects were randomized into two parallel treatment groups, each of which received two daily applications of a topical aqueous serum for 12 weeks. The first group received a topical application containing kinetin (0.03 percent) and niacinamide (4 percent) to one side of the face and a control serum containing no active ingredients to the other. The second group received a topical aqueous serum application containing only niacinamide (4 percent) to one side of the face and a control serum containing no active ingredients to the other. Each subject was evaluated at commencement of the study and after four, eight and 12 weeks using Canfield Scientific's VISIA Complexion Analysis System to photographically record changes in facial spots, pore count, wrinkle count and skin evenness, and Cutometer, Corneometer and Mexameter non-invasive probes to physically measure skin elasticity, skin moisture content and skin melanin and erythema, respectively.

For subjects receiving the Kinetin-niacinamide combination treatment, statistically significant improvements after 12 weeks included:

-- 41 percent reduction in facial wrinkles;

-- 16.3 percent improvement in facial evenness;

-- 15.9 percent fewer pores;

-- 6.8 percent fewer facial spots

-- 16.7 percent increase in hydration of the stratum corneum, or the outer most layer of the skin; and

-- 10 percent less facial skin erythema, or abnormal skin redness.

Most significantly, subjects receiving the niacinamide-only treatment did not experience any statistically significant improvement in the last three indicia of skin aging (facial spots, stratum corneum hydration or erythema). In addition, no significant skin irritation or other adverse events were reported for either subject group, and there was no statistically significant difference in reported events between the two groups.

The study report written by attending dermatologist Pin-Chi Chiu, M.D. concluded that "Kinetin, when combined with niacinamide, can be used as an adjunctive therapy for acne rosacea, xerosis and sensitive skin" and that "the effects of kinetin and niacinamide are additive when compared to niacinamide alone. Study data suggest that these compounds have the capacity to exert multiactive, multifunctional and pluripotent effects on the skin."

Frank J. Massino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Senetek PLC, commented, "Senetek believes these study results will further enhance Panion's ability to effectively market its line of Kinetin products throughout Taiwan and China. Panion has been a valuable partner, utilizing its world-class research and manufacturing facility and professionals to create an innovative product line that combines Senetek's Kinetin with Panion's synergistic active compounds in formulations specially designed for Asian customers."

Michael Chiang, Executive President of Panion & BF Biotech, stated, "The Taiwanese study results suggests that Kinetin's efficacy in reducing facial anti-aging signs in Asian skin is even greater when used in combination with niacinamide. With a growing trend of Asian consumers becoming more concerned about skin health and appearance, Panion will launch this clinically proven line of Kinetin combination products to dermatologists and plastic surgeons in Taiwan and expand to Mainland China."

In 2003, Panion's premier Kinetin skin care product, New Skin, received approval as a functional care product from the Taiwan Department of Health. Since then, the company's full Kinetin product line has received the 2003 National Biotechnology and Medical Care Award from the President of Taiwan. Further Panion products, featuring Kinetin in combination with effective synergistic ingredients, will be submitted to the Taiwan Department of Health for registration as functional skin care products later this year.

About Panion & BF Biotech Inc.

Headquartered in Taiwan, Panion & BF Biotech Inc. (TPE: 1760) is engaged in the manufacture, sale, import and export of human-use medicine, food and cosmetics. Panion distributes domestically produced and foreign-imported human-use western medicine, medical cosmetics, medical equipment, as well as medicines, cosmetics and food from Mainland China across the domestic market and Asia. Panion's products are used for circulatory systems, nervous systems, digestive systems, antibiotic systems, urogenital systems and integumentary systems.

For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.pbf.com.tw/

About Senetek PLC

Senetek PLC (OTC Bulletin Board: SNTKY) is a life sciences product development company with a portfolio of intellectual properties targeting the science of aging, including skincare and dermatological therapeutics, erectile dysfunction and nutrition. Kinetin, Senetek PLC's lead commercial product, is currently licensed and marketed by 14 pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical companies, including Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and The Body Shop. In addition, the Company has entered into an exclusive global license with Valeant for Senetek's proprietary anti-aging skincare compound, Zeatin, has entered into exclusive licenses for Europe and North America, respectively, for its patented combination drug treatment for erectile dysfunction, Invicorp(R), has an exclusive manufacturing distributorship for its proprietary diagnosic monoclonal antibodies, and recently sold, with retained rights of profit participation, its patented drug delivery system, Reliaject(R).

For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.senetekplc.com/.

This news release contains statements that may be considered 'forward- looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, including those that might imply commercial potential and successful evaluation and development of new compounds. Forward-looking statements by their nature involve substantial uncertainty, and actual results may differ materially from those that might be suggested by such statements. Important factors identified by the Company that it believes could result in such material differences are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year 2005. However, the Company necessarily can give no assurance that it has identified or will identify all of the factors that may result in any particular forward-looking statement materially differing from actual results, and the Company assumes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements which may prove to be inaccurate, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Senetek PLC
http://www.senetekplc.com