Hypothesis Launches Acne Treatment Using NIH-Funded Enzyme Technology

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5.4.2026

Quick Facts

Hypothesis received $2.7 million in NIH grants to develop proprietary enzymes targeting acne-causing bacteria
Clinical trials showed 90% of participants saw 90% improvement in acne symptoms in eight weeks
The company launched three acne products on May 4, following its October eczema debut at Ulta Beauty

California-based Hypothesis launched three new acne products using proprietary enzyme technology developed with $2.7 million in National Institutes of Health grants. The biotech skincare company, made by Topaz Biosciences, targets specific bacteria while preserving beneficial microbes.

Clinical trials showed 90% of participants experienced 90% improvement in acne symptoms within eight weeks. The company isolated its acne-targeting enzyme, called CUT-02, over more than a year before scaling production through fermentation.

“This class of enzymes can bind to bacteria cell walls and chew them up really rapidly, and it causes the cell to burst and die,” said Oliver Liu, CEO and co-founder at Topaz Biosciences. “But what’s really interesting is they have the potential for specificity down to a single species of bacteria within a community of bacteria, while leaving all the other bacteria alone.”

The seven-month-old brand first launched three eczema products in October, selling direct-to-consumer and through Ulta Beauty. MyMicrobiome awarded Hypothesis its first-ever Microbiome-Friendly Eczema certification for its precision enzyme technology.

Hypothesis secured competitive federal funding despite NIH grants having only a 10% approval rate. The company received an initial $300,000 phase-one grant to prove the concept, followed by $2.1 million over two years for commercial development. In total, Topaz Biosciences raised $2.5 million in venture capital alongside the federal grants.

“You’re not giving equity, they’re non-dilutive, and they are not contingent on having the exact perfect results,” Liu said about NIH grants. “Acne definitely needs new, targeted approaches, but there just haven’t been a huge amount of development and new acne treatments.”

Acne affects more than 50 million Americans annually, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Current treatments largely rely on ingredients developed 40-50 years ago, Liu noted.

The launch coincides with growing consumer interest in microbiome science and biotech skincare ingredients. Industry analysts predict biotech-derived cosmetic ingredients will grow at 8.6% annually through 2035.