Under a new partnership agreement, Netherlands-based personal care company Squalan Natural Health will sell products directly to consumers that contain Neossance Squalane, an emollient produced by US industrial bioscience company Amyris.

The partnership between Amyris and Squalan will serve to accelerate the development and market penetration of products containing Amyris’s Neossance Squalane, a natural ingredient produced from plant sugars. Under the new relationship, Squalan will market and sell Neossance-based products to retailers and consumers, primarily in the European Union.

According to Amyris, Neossance Squalane provides “exceptional moisturizing properties” and “offers a silky, smooth and elegant texture without a greasy, heavy after feel.”

John Melo, President and CEO of Amyris, commented, “Amyris is excited to work with Squalan to help expand Squalan’s operations and rapidly increase its market penetration with best-in-class products. The innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of Squalan and its founders along with their commitment to high quality products make them an ideal partner for Amyris. We’re excited to continue building on the momentum from a strong first quarter.”

Leslie van der Meijden, Co-Founder of Squalan, added, “We are thrilled about our relationship with Amyris and the opportunity to work with a company so far away in distance, yet so close in philosophy, values and belief in the future of squalane-based products.”

As part of the agreement, Amyris is investing in Squalan and will have an option to acquire an ownership stake in Squalan and the right to appoint a member of Squalan’s board of directors. Squalan will continue to be managed by founders Leslie van der Meijden and Monique Hugen.