What S-Biomedic does

S-Biomedic NV is a Belgian skin microbiome biotech founded in 2014 in Ghent by Bernhard Paetzold, Marc Göll and Veronika Oudova, with its registered office in Beerse and R&D operations embedded at the VIB Flemish Institute for Biotechnology in Ghent. The company develops Living Skin Probiotics (CutiBiotics) and Postbiotics based on Cutibacterium strains — the dominant commensal bacteria of healthy human skin — together with proprietary Modulation Technology designed to restore beneficial microbial populations on skin that has lost them. In 2019, S-Biomedic reported performing the first-ever successful skin microbiome transplantation, an extension of the gut microbiome transplant concept to chronic skin conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis, and has backed its technology with more than 15 clinical studies and Next-Gen Sequencing-based strain identification.

The business operates a hybrid commercialisation model. On the B2B side, S-Biomedic has supplied its living probiotic and postbiotic ingredients, along with associated manufacturing know-how, to cosmetics and dermatology players; this channel culminated in a strategic investor relationship with Beiersdorf AG beginning in 2018 and a majority-stake acquisition by Beiersdorf in December 2022, making the global skin care group the controlling parent. On the B2C side, the company sells consumer skincare products under the Sencyr brand through its own e-commerce store (sencyr.com), targeting end consumers with chronic skin conditions. The company is funded by approximately $6.1M of dilutive capital across a 2016 seed round led by CG Health Ventures and a 2018 Series A led by Beiersdorf with Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Verve Ventures, supplemented by EU Horizon 2020 non-dilutive funding (grant No. 890930) via the European Innovation Council.

Post-acquisition, S-Biomedic operates as a majority-owned subsidiary of Beiersdorf AG with its technology, clinical pipeline and team integrated into the parent's skin care innovation portfolio. Headcount remains in the 1-10 range, pricing is not publicly disclosed, and revenue is not reported in available sources. The company's strategic positioning rests on scientific first-mover status in skin microbiome transplantation, a clinical evidence base of 15+ studies, and proprietary formulation and manufacturing know-how required to keep probiotic strains alive in the bottle and viable on the skin.

Name

S-Biomedic

Legal name

S-Biomedic NV

Website

https://sbiomedic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

S-Biomedic is a Belgian biotech that develops Cutibacterium-based Living Skin Probiotics and Postbiotics to restore the skin microbiome in chronic conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis, licensing the technology to skincare brands and selling a consumer line called Sencyr, and is now a majority-owned subsidiary of Beiersdorf AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microbiome Skincare Ingredients

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Dermatology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF), Dermatology & Aesthetics Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Skin microbiome therapeutics
• Living probiotics skincare
• Biotech ingredients
• Microbiome modulation
• Probiotic cosmetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Ghent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing / Acquisition: S-Biomedic's core technology (Living Skin Probiotics, Modulation Technology) was licensed and ultimately acquired by Beiersdorf AG, a global leader in skin care, following years of partnership since 2018. Beiersdorf acquired a majority stake in S-Biomedic NV in December 2022.
2. Consumer Product Sales (Sencyr): S-Biomedic sells consumer-facing skincare products under the Sencyr brand through its own e-commerce platform (sencyr.com), targeting consumers with products based on Living Skin Probiotics and Postbiotics for conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

S-Biomedic develops and commercializes skin microbiome-based biotechnology, including Living Skin Probiotics (living Cutibacterium bacterial strains) and Living Skin Postbiotics (commensal-derived bioactives), under its proprietary Modulation Technology platform. It supplies these probiotic ingredients to skincare brands (B2B) and sells finished consumer skincare products through its Sencyr brand (B2C), targeting chronic skin conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.

Product overview

S-Biomedic is a biotech company pioneering skin microbiome research and commercialization. The company operates both as an ingredient supplier offering proprietary microbiome-based solutions to other skincare brands, and as a direct-to-consumer brand through Sencyr Products. Their core product portfolio centers on Living Skin CutiBiotics®, which includes Living Skin Probiotics (living Cutibacterium strains) and Living Skin Postbiotics (commensal-derived bioactives). These products work through their proprietary Modulation Technology platform to restore skin microbiome balance and address conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea. The company has conducted over 15 clinical studies validating their approach and manufactures probiotic skincare formulations that remain viable throughout shelf life and on-skin application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Living Skin CutiBiotics: Living Skin Probiotics and Postbiotics that help restore beneficial bacteria on the skin using Cutibacterium strains for addressing conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea.

Products and services

• Living Skin Probiotics Topically applied living bacterial strains derived from Cutibacterium (the major skin microbe), designed to restore healthy skin microbiome communities and address chronic skin conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. Sold to cosmetics and skincare brands as an ingredient, and used in the company's own consumer formulations.
• Living Skin Postbiotics Skin commensal-derived bioactive ingredients providing targeted modulation of skin function through natural bioactives identical to those produced by healthy skin microbiota, offering natural skin support without live organisms. Sold as ingredients to skincare and dermatological product formulators.
• Sencyr Consumer Skincare Products Commercial skincare products powered by S-Biomedic's Living Skin Probiotic and Postbiotic technology, marketed to individual consumers for the management of acne and other chronic skin conditions, and sold directly through the Sencyr online store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15 clinical studies demonstrating safety and efficacy of Living Skin Probiotics
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Start it @KBCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerS-Biomedic is a member of Start it @KBC, Belgium's largest startup community with over 477 startups, supporting and promoting innovative and scalable entrepreneurship.
• flanders.biominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerS-Biomedic is a member of flanders.bio, a cluster organisation with over 330 members from Belgium and abroad, empowering a life sciences driven network economy.
• PRI (Pharmabiotic Research Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerS-Biomedic is a member of PRI, a European non-profit organization (French Association, 1901) focused on regulatory affairs in the microbiome field for the EU market.
• VIB (Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerS-Biomedic's R&D operations are located at VIB (Flemish Institute for Biotechnology) in Ghent. VIB is a world-leading biotech research institute providing state-of-the-art facilities and scientific expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mother Dirt (AOBiome): AOBiome's Mother Dirt brand is the most direct peer to S-Biomedic — both develop live, Ammonia-Oxidizing/Cutibacterium-based topical biotherapeutic products targeting the skin microbiome for conditions like acne and eczema. Both pioneered microbiome-based consumer skincare and operate a similar B2C + B2B licensing model.
• Gallinée: Gallinée is a microbiome-focused skincare brand founded by a former L'Oréal scientist, offering probiotic and postbiotic skincare. Comparable to S-Biomedic in its microbiome-first positioning, consumer-grade product form, and clinical storytelling.
• Tula Skincare: Tula is a probiotic skincare brand built around topical probiotic formulations. Comparable to S-Biomedic in applying probiotic science to consumer skincare, though Tula focuses more on standard probiotics rather than living commensal strains.
• LaFlore Probiotic Skincare: LaFlore offers probiotic-infused skincare products targeting conditions like acne and eczema, with a similar natural/microbiome positioning to S-Biomedic. Comparable in product form, channel mix (DTC + select retail), and condition focus.
• Aurelia London: Aurelia London is a probiotic skincare brand combining biotic ingredients with clinically validated formulations. Comparable to S-Biomedic in its probiotic science positioning, premium positioning, and emphasis on clinical research.
• SkinBio Therapeutics: SkinBio Therapeutics is a UK-listed skin microbiome company developing probiotic-based skincare and therapeutic products for conditions including eczema and acne. Highly comparable to S-Biomedic in technology platform, indication focus, and stage of development.
• Yun Probiotherapy (Yun): Yun is a Korean microbiome skincare brand built on proprietary probiotic lysate technology for sensitive and compromised skin. Comparable to S-Biomedic in microbiome-based formulation science and dermatology-adjacent positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Beiersdorf AG: Beiersdorf (NIVEA, Eucerin, La Prairie) is both S-Biomedic's parent company and a broad skincare incumbent with its own microbiome research initiatives. It is the strategic acquirer and primary distribution channel for S-Biomedic's technology.
• L'Oréal: L'Oréal has significant microbiome research programs (e.g., partnership with uBiome) and operates across La Roche-Posay, Vichy, and SkinCeuticals. It is a broad incumbent whose microbiome initiatives compete for category leadership with S-Biomedic's platform.
• Johnson & Johnson: Johnson & Johnson Innovation was a Series A investor in S-Biomedic in 2018. J&J's consumer health division (Neutrogena, Aveeno) is a broad incumbent operating in dermatology-adjacent skincare with emerging microbiome programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about S-Biomedic