Belgium-based biotech startup Kokuma showcased its Tonasulike-D depigmenting active ingredient at the 35th IFSCC Congress in Cannes, France.
The company says the ingredient is more potent than existing actives while safely and visibly reducing hyperpigmentation and brightening skin tone across all tested skin types.
Scientifically validated and well-tolerated, Tonasulike-D delivers clinically proven results at a record-low concentration of just 0.01%.
Unlike tyrosinase inhibitors, some of which are banned or restricted, Tonasulike-D uses a dual, synergistic mechanism of action that delivers proven clinical results.
It works upstream to reduce melanin production and downstream to prevent melanin transfer, setting a new standard in efficacy, safety, and formulation performance.
“By leveraging AI and biotech, we uncovered a potent new ingredient that delivers clinical results safely, setting new standards for depigmenting and brightening ingredients,” said Kokuma chief scientific officer and co-founder Yannick Quesnel.
Tonasulike-D was discovered using Kokuma’s AI platform, applying pharmaceutical-style in-silico predictive tools to identify high-potential, previously untapped biological targets.
By combining public and proprietary data integration, AI-based predictions (e.g., solubility, lipophilicity, skin penetration), mechanistic insight, safety prof ling and IP landscape mapping, Kokuma’s experts identified and validated their top-performing molecule.
Validated across clinical, in vitro and ex vivo studies, Tonasulike-D delivers visible and measurable results, even at an extremely low concentration of 0.01%. Its performance sets a new benchmark in addressing hyperpigmentation and skin brightening.
“After three years of R&D, lab testing, and clinical trials, we’re ready to bring Tonasulike-D to the market starting this fall,” said CEO and co-founder Alexandre Jouve.
