Description:
Haleon are looking for new ingredients, raw materials, and technologies that offer an alternative to current denture fixative technologies [PVM/MA (polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic acid) copolymer double salts, standard PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) polymers, and cellulose gums]. These ingredients will need to be suitable to be formulated into a daily-use denture fixative product. Performance of finished products will be evaluated via a range of methodologies including, but not limited to, rheology, separation force, work of adhesion, and movement.
Background:
Consumers who wear dentures want them to feel secure, comfortable, and discreet throughout the day, especially while eating and speaking. Although current denture fixatives can provide retention, many users remain dissatisfied with the overall experience and lack confidence that existing products will keep dentures securely in place in a way that feels natural. Users often want their dentures to behave more like natural teeth, without drawing attention to the fact that they wear them. A key unmet need is achieving reliable, all-day hold while still allowing the denture to be removed easily at the end of the day.
In addition, many current products are perceived as messy, oozy, or unpleasant during use, and adhesive residue can be difficult to remove from both the mouth and the denture. Another important challenge is maintaining a lasting seal between the denture and gum to help prevent food ingress during wear. Because denture adhesives remain in the mouth for extended periods and may be partially ingested, consumers may also be cautious about technologies that appear overly strong, harsh, or otherwise unsuitable for prolonged oral exposure. Existing formulation approaches have reached relative technical maturity, creating an opportunity for new materials and technologies that can deliver a step change in hold, seal, comfort, and overall user experience.
Key Success Criteria:
Our must-have requirements are:
- Suitable for safe daily oral use, with a credible path to regulatory acceptance for denture fixative applications
- Compatible with formulation into a denture fixative product format
- Demonstrates a credible mechanism for improving hold, seal, usage experience, and/or ease of removal
Our nice-to-haves are:
- Acceptable taste and sensory profile, with known trade-offs clearly identified
- Sustainable solutions (e.g., low CO2 footprint vs. PVM/MA)
- Commercially available, or capable of commercialization within 3 to 5 years
- Clear proposed mechanism of action
- Provides additional non-medicinal benefits, such as improved freshness perception or reduced food trapping
Possible Approaches
- Mucoadhesive polymers with improved wet adhesion and clean removal
- Bioinspired adhesion systems for wet oral environments
- Moisture-responsive or thermo-responsive materials
- Oral-safe pressure-sensitive adhesive systems
- Materials that improve seal formation at the denture–gum interface
- Non-zinc adhesion/cohesion modifiers, tackifiers, or plasticizers
- Structured gels or viscoelastic networks that reduce ooze and mess
- Film-forming or barrier-forming materials that reduce food ingress
- Multi-component systems separating hold, seal, and removability functions
- New denture fixative formats such as strips, films, pads, or precision-applied systems
Approaches Not of Interest
- PVM/MA (polyvinyl methyl ether/maleic acid) copolymer double salts
- Technologies containing zinc
- Nanotechnology
- Solutions whose primary mode of action is medicinal, therapeutic, or pharmacological
Preferred Collaboration types
Partnership models:
- Co-development
- Licensing
- Fee-for-service
- Supply/purchase
- Equity investment
- Sponsored research
Additional Information
Sponsored research: Funding is proposal-dependent, starting with a proof-of-concept project that has the potential for expansion based on results and opportunities. The funding range is typically from $25,000 to $100,000 for a six-month project.
Submit your solutions here
Related Tech Needs:
Haleon Seeking: Plaque Removal Technologies
Haleon Seeking: Whitening and stain prevention technologies designed for sensitive teeth
Haleon Seeking: Innovative Solutions for Teeth Sensitivity and Acid Erosion
yet2 provides and manages fully customized Open Innovation Portals for global brands, including Colgate-Palmolive, Opella, Haleon, Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals, and more.
Images generated by OpenAI