Cosmax Group and Mass General Brigham launch second phase of microbiome partnership

Cosmax Group and Mass General Brigham have entered the second phase of their joint VIVA Project, signing the pact on Oct. 13 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The three-year program (2026-2029) will broaden the scope of earlier skin-microbiome research to include functional food ingredients and potential drug candidates aimed at anti-aging and healthy-aging outcomes. Researchers will utilise Mass General Brigham’s clinical infrastructure to evaluate candidate substances for safety and efficacy, and will explore probiotic and GLP-1-like mechanisms for weight and metabolic control.

Artificial-intelligence platforms will be employed to pinpoint research targets and optimise formulations, accelerating development timelines. The initiative follows a first-phase study that identified a microorganism-derived compound improving atopic dermatitis symptoms, published in Allergy, and a Korean patent application by Cosmax. Additionally, Cosmax has set up a GMP-compliant production line for Class II adhesive transparent wound dressings.