Winning Gold at in-cosmetics Asia changed how the industry sees ArrowBiome

Singapore-based biotech company ArrowBiome Pte. Ltd. picked up the Gold Award in the Innovation Zone Best Active Ingredient category at the 2025 in-cosmetics Asia Awards, for its breakthrough active ArcherZyme®. A year on, the win has opened doors and given the team at ArrowBiome a boost of confidence in what they've built.

ArcherZyme® wasn't initially developed for skincare. It began as an attempt to tackle antimicrobial resistance, one of the biggest threats facing global health today. It was built on the idea that you could accurately target harmful bacteria. The move into personal care came from something much closer to home.

“Watching a loved one struggle with severe acne, our founder recognised that the same precision principle, the ability to disarm a trouble-causing bacterium while leaving the healthy skin untouched, could transform everyday skin conditions,” says Dr Bert Grobben, Chief Executive Officer at ArrowBiome. “Acne became our first application, and because that same targeting logic applies wherever a single species is driving the problem, we applied it to body odour from the very start.”

For ArrowBiome, in-cosmetics Asia has become a central platform for connecting with the global personal care industry and showcasing its ingredients to brands, formulators and R&D leaders.

Having been active in the in-cosmetics community for several years, the company has chosen to focus its trade show presence around these key industry gatherings, recognising their ability to create valuable commercial opportunities and build long-term partnerships.

“It is our anchor event,” says Grobben. “We've participated in in-cosmetics Asia for several years now, and as ArrowBiome we have chosen to focus our trade-show presence entirely on the in-cosmetics events. That's how central they are to us.”

“The Asian market now makes up a sizeable part of our commercial pipeline, and in-cosmetics Asia has been instrumental in opening those doors. It's where we meet new prospects and partners, and where we reconnect with existing ones. For a company like ours, it's far more than an exhibition. It's a core part of our go-to-market strategy.”

The Gold Award win for ArcherZyme® in the Innovation Zone Best Active Ingredient category provided independent recognition of ArrowBiome’s scientific approach and highlighted the growing importance of precision microbiome solutions within personal care.

ArcherZyme® is not a traditional antimicrobial active. Inspired by nature’s own lysins and engineered for cosmetic applications, the ingredient works by targeting specific bacteria while maintaining the balance of the skin microbiome. For body odour applications, it selectively acts on odour-associated bacteria such as S. hominis, helping brands address unwanted odour while preserving beneficial microorganisms.

“It was a very special moment for us,” says Grobben. “Years of hard, patient work to make a genuine difference were recognised, and against a very strong field of candidates.”

“There is a great deal of serious innovation happening in this industry, so being selected as a smaller company meant an enormous amount. It told us that deep insight and precise engineering could stand shoulder to shoulder with the best, and that an independent, expert judging panel saw the same difference we've always believed in.”

Winning the Gold Award strengthened ArrowBiome’s visibility and credibility within the personal care industry, providing valuable third-party validation of its technology and creating new commercial opportunities across Asia.

The impact was immediate. Following the announcement, ArrowBiome saw increased traffic to its booth on the second and third days of in-cosmetics Asia, alongside enquiries through its company website. This contributed to more than 200 qualified business opportunities across 43 distributor relationships in nine Asian markets.

“The award instantly lifted our credibility and our exposure,” explains Grobben. “Moving from self-proclaimed benefits to independent, expert-panel recognition makes a significant difference in how the industry receives you. That external validation has been well recognised by our partners and prospects.”

The recognition has also helped position ArrowBiome as an innovation-led partner, accelerating conversations with distributors and prospective customers. These opportunities are now progressing through sampling, technical evaluations, quotations and wider commercial discussions, giving the company a growing pipeline following its success at the event.

Since the win, the team hasn't slowed down. They're scaling up their two lead ingredients, ArcherZyme® and SmartArrow®, to keep pace with growing demand, and both are now working their way through qualification with some of the world's biggest beauty companies while being sold through an expanding network of global distributors. At the same time, they're building the next generation of both ingredients and exploring entirely new actives to solve problems the market hasn't cracked yet, with more launches expected over the coming years.

Looking back on the year since the win, Grobben doesn't forget who helped make it possible. “First, a heartfelt thank you to the judging panel, the organisers and this community, which has been so effective for us over the years.”

He adds: “in-cosmetics has been a true partner in our journey, and we're grateful and excited to keep building the future of precision, microbiome-friendly personal care alongside all of you.”

Join the Awards at in-cosmetics Asia on 3 November

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