Our mission is to develop innovative veterinary medical devices for the management of inflammatory skin diseases and dermatoses, supporting the reduction of inflammation and the restoration of the skin barrier.
Designed to complement systemic pharmacological therapies, our solutions promote skin balance and contribute to safer, long-term management of dermatological conditions in animals (Magnifico et al., 2020; Olivry et al., 2015). Through a science-driven approach, we aim to improve animal well-being and quality of life.
HA c-40 Technology
HAc40 is a proprietary macromolecular conjugate developed through an innovative patented process that chemically links a purified fragment of the beneficial bacterial cell wall derived from Cutibacterium acnes DSM 28251 to sodium hyaluronate.
Mechanism of Action
HAc40 is designed as a microbioma-modulating system targeting through two different mechanisms.
1. Skin barrier protection
Experimental evidence indicates that HAc40 can interfere with the pathogenic activity of Staphylococcus aureus-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) on keratinocytes (Kim et al., 2020). In vitro studies show that treatment with HAc40 leads to:
- Modulation of EV biophysical properties: including an increase in vesicle size, reducing cellular interaction and uptake (Pietrangelo et al., 2021; Pietrangelo et al., 2023)
- Reduction of EV-induced keratinocytes cytotoxicity: protecting the viability of the epidermis.
- Preservation of tight junction (TJ) proteins: including zona occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-1 (CLDN1), thereby supporting epidermal barrier integrity and preventing barrier disruption (Magnifico et al., 2023; Petronio Petronio et al., 2024)
2. Microbiota modulation
HAc40 has also been shown to reduce the colonization capacity of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, a key species involved in the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis (Bhaduri et al., 2022).
An in vitro study conducted on canine-derived keratin substrates demonstrated that HAc40 significantly reduces the adhesion of S. pseudintermedius strains through a barrier effect. Importantly, in this context, S. pseudintermedius does not act merely as an opportunistic colonizer, but as an active driver of disease progression. It contributes to the amplification of cutaneous inflammation through direct interaction with the host immune system and the release of virulence factors, thereby exacerbating barrier dysfunction and clinical severity (Simou et al., 2005). By modulating its colonization, HAc40 contributes to interrupting this pathogenic loop, supporting the restoration of microbial balance and skin homeostasis.
Clinical Evidence in the Canine Model
A clinical study conducted in 52 dogs demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the VeteXema foam, both as monotherapy and as an adjunct treatment to systemic drugs (Noli et al., 2022). The results showed improvement in clinical signs and symptoms, accelerating recovery of the skin barrier in dogs receiving concomitant systemic therapy, supporting its role in enhancing barrier restoration in atopic dermatitis. Specifically, treated subjects showed a significant reduction in pruritus and lesion scores (CADESI-4), alongside a faster normalization of transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
References
1. Bhaduri, P., et al. (2022). Staphylococcus pseudintermedius: An update on its role in canine skin infections. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 84(3), 321-330.
2. Kim, G. J., et al. (2020). Staphylococcal enterotoxin B-containing extracellular vesicles induce systemic immune responses. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 8645.
3. Magnifico, Irene et al. “A Wall Fragment of Cutibacterium acnes Preserves Junctional Integrity Altered by Staphylococcus aureus in an Ex Vivo Porcine Skin Model.” Pharmaceutics vol. 15,4 1224. 12 Apr. 2023, doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics15041224
4. Magnifico, Irene et al. “Atopic Dermatitis as a Multifactorial Skin Disorder. Can the Analysis of Pathophysiological Targets Represent the Winning Therapeutic Strategy?.” Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 13,11 411. 22 Nov. 2020,
5. Noli, C., et al. (2022). Efficacy and safety of a topical foam containing a hyaluronic acid-bacterial cell wall fragment conjugate (HAc40) in dogs with atopic dermatitis: A randomized, blinded, controlled study. Veterinary Dermatology (Presented at ESVD/ECVD Congress).
6. Olivry, T., et al. (2015). Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: 2015 updated guidelines from the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA). BMC Veterinary Research, 11(1), 105.
7. Pietrangelo, Laura et al. “Efficacy and Microbiota Modulation Induced by LimpiAL 2.5%, a New Medical Device for the Inverse Psoriasis Treatment.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 24,7 6339. 28 Mar. 2023, doi:10.3390/ijms24076339
8. Pietrangelo, Laura et al. “LimpiAD foam and the potential control of the pressure ulcers onset.” Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie vol. 144 (2021): 112327. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112327
9. Simou, C., et al. (2005). Adherence of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius to canine corneocytes: A comparison of atopic and healthy dogs. Veterinary Dermatology, 16(6), 385-391.
References
1. Magnifico, Irene et al. “A Wall Fragment of Cutibacterium acnes Preserves Junctional Integrity Altered by Staphylococcus aureus in an Ex Vivo Porcine Skin Model.” Pharmaceutics vol. 15,4 1224. 12 Apr. 2023, doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics15041224
2. Magnifico, Irene et al. “Atopic Dermatitis as a Multifactorial Skin Disorder. Can the Analysis of Pathophysiological Targets Represent the Winning Therapeutic Strategy?.” Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 13,11 411. 22 Nov. 2020, doi:10.3390/ph13110411
3. Monola, A., et al. (2023). Evaluation of a HA-conjugate system in restoring the skin barrier and modulating the microbiome in atopic-prone skin. Dermatological Reports (In Press/Selected Proceedings).
4. Nakatsuji, T., et al. (2017). Antimicrobials from human skin commensal bacteria protect against Staphylococcus aureus and are deficient in atopic dermatitis. Science Translational Medicine, 9(378), eaah4680.
5. Paller, A. S., et al. (2019). The microbiome in patients with atopic dermatitis. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 143(1), 26-35.
6. Petronio Petronio, Giulio et al. “Targeting S. aureus Extracellular Vesicles: A New Putative Strategy to Counteract Their Pathogenic Potential.” Pharmaceutics vol. 16,6 789. 11 Jun. 2024, doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics16060789
7. Pietrangelo, Laura et al. “Efficacy and Microbiota Modulation Induced by LimpiAL 2.5%, a New Medical Device for the Inverse Psoriasis Treatment.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 24,7 6339. 28 Mar. 2023, doi:10.3390/ijms24076339
8. Pietrangelo, Laura et al. “LimpiAD foam and the potential control of the pressure ulcers onset.” Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie vol. 144 (2021): 112327. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112327