Degussa Goldschmidt Personal Care and Helix BioMedix announce Partnership on Peptides

Goldschmidt GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Degussa GmbH and leading global manufacturer of raw materials, additives and active ingredients for the cosmetic industry, and Helix BioMedix, Inc., (OTCBB: HXBM), a biopharmaceutical company with an extensive library of diverse bioactive peptides, today announced an agreement through which Degussa Goldschmidt Personal Care will become Helix BioMedix’s exclusive marketing partner for its Combikine™ and Replikine™ class of anti-aging peptides in addition to other selected peptides targeted at skin care applications.

“We are extremely pleased about our agreement with Helix BioMedix since it will allow us to complement our existing product portfolio of specialty and active ingredients for the cosmetic industry,” remarks Willy Klipp, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Goldschmidt Personal Care. “This cooperation is a further important move in growing our customer relationships and guaranteeing the consistent implementation of our overall strategy. We are currently evaluating several peptides and plan that initial products developed as a result of this partnership will be commercially available as of 2008.”

“Partnering with a company of Degussa’s stature will assist us as we continue to commercialize our innovative peptides,” commented R. Stephen Beatty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helix BioMedix. “Degussa Goldschmidt Personal Care is one of the leading manufacturers of cosmetic ingredients worldwide, with an impressive portfolio and an excellent reputation for product development and service. We look forward to continuing our work with them, and anticipate that over the term of this agreement our joint efforts will produce many innovative personal care products covering a variety of applications and benefits.”

“Bioactive peptides are emerging as some of today’s most promising answers to the constant demand for innovation in bio-science,” explains Dr. Mike Farwick, Head of Research and Development Active Ingredients for Goldschmidt, Personal Care. “Accessing Helix BioMedix’s portfolio of innovative peptides and combining it with our extensive formulation know-how and claims validation capabilities substantially supports our competitive advantage in creating the next generation of safe and effective personal care products.”

About Goldschmidt GmbH
Goldschmidt GmbH’s business line Personal Care is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of raw materials, additives, and active ingredients for the cosmetics industry. All business activities are strongly supported by application technology, as well as by own in-house research & development. A dedicated team of highly skilled professionals is committed to excellence and customer satisfaction. Among other products Goldschmidt is specialised in manufacturing human skin identical sphingolipids including Ceramides by biotech means. Screening, identification and confirmation of biological activities for novel ingredients is carried with state-of-the-art cell and molecular biology including the use of DNA-Chip technology, cell cultures, artificial skin models and the validation of results in in-vivo studies.

About Helix BioMedix, Inc.
Helix BioMedix, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with an extensive library of diverse bioactive peptides and patents covering six distinct classes and hundreds of thousands of peptide sequences. The company’s mission is to enrich clinical practice and the patient/consumer experience by developing topically applied products that offer the health, beauty and safety benefits of advanced bioactive small molecule technology. The Company’s vision is to be recognized as the world leader in the identification, qualification and commercialization of natural and synthetic peptide technology.

The core competencies of Helix BioMedix include peptide design, synthesis and characterization together with assay development, screening, tissue culture and microbiology, leveraged through relationships with contract research organizations and peptide manufacturers. The company has the capability to take product development programs from theoretical concept to a validated and qualified skin care active ingredient fully validated as to efficacy and safety. Applications for Helix BioMedix peptides include anti-aging cosmeceutical skin care and acne treatment as well as other topical anti-infective pharmaceuticals and wound healing applications. In addition, the company is developing finished, peptide-based products to market with its partners.

More information about Helix BioMedix and its proprietary peptides may be found on the company’s website at www.helixbiomedix.com.