Azitra, Inc. reported ex vivo study results for its ATR-COSF cosmetic candidate, showing that a single topical dose reduced the appearance of fine lines and improved skin elasticity in human skin explants. The data, derived from two models of recent cosmetic surgery tissue, indicated visible improvements that continued over a 48-hour period. The company announced that co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Travis Whitfill will present these findings at the BIO-Europe conference in Cologne, Germany, on November 10, 2026.
ATR-COSF is a supernatant-based formulation containing an active recombinant human domain of the protein filaggrin. The product candidate is formulated in a hydrogel using the supernatant from a strain of S. epidermidis engineered to secrete this functional unit of the human protein. In the first model, dorsal torsoplasty skin explants were treated with a 2% concentration of ATR-COSF approximately 18 hours after surgery. Surface evaluation of wrinkles showed that the treated skin experienced reductions of approximately 15% at three hours, improving to approximately 20% at 24 hours and reaching an overall reduction of approximately 50% at 48 hours. A control group treated with the hydrogel vehicle alone showed no improvement, with the appearance of fine lines increasing by approximately 15% at three hours and 20% by 48 hours. ATR-COSF also preserved net skin elasticity over the 48-hour period, whereas the control group saw a decline in elasticity.
The second model utilized face lift skin explants received approximately 48 hours after surgery. Researchers tested ATR-COSF at concentrations of 2% and 4%, alongside a hydrogel-only control, measuring skin elasticity six hours post-application. The 4% ATR-COSF formulation outperformed both the 2% formulation and the hydrogel alone across all measured elasticity parameters, including maximum deformation, overall elasticity, and total recovery. In contrast, the 2% formulation and the hydrogel alone showed either a decline in elasticity or no improvement.
Azitra anticipates conducting a first-in-human clinical study of the 4% ATR-COSF formulation in approximately 30 subjects, with initial data expected by year end. Francisco Salva, CEO of Azitra, stated that the company remains appropriately funded to reach this milestone. He noted that institutional investors who supported the company earlier this year have a near-term opportunity to invest an additional $5.25 million to $10.5 million from financial instruments issued in that transaction once the clinical data is released.