SkinNexus™ Collag3n, BASF and Bota Biosciences’ newly launched, AI-designed, human-identical Collagen III active, signals where next-generation collagen actives may be headed — and it’s exactly the kind of ingredient our R&D team tracks as part of evaluating what to bring to clients.
Written & researched by Adrian Vale, Industry Researcher & Manufacturing Strategist · Technical input by ORIZI Group R&D Team · Fact-checked by Creaton Poh · Published by ORIZI Group · Last reviewed July 2026
Disclosure: This article is published by ORIZI Group and may refer to our own manufacturing experience, services and capabilities. External factual claims are supported by cited sources.
Quick answer
SkinNexus™ Collag3n is a new recombinant, vegan Collagen III active launched by BASF and biotech partner Bota Biosciences on June 30, 2026, engineered to a 100% human-identical sequence using an AI-assisted screening process. We haven’t formulated with it yet, but as a private-label and contract manufacturer that watches new actives closely on behalf of clients, it’s on our radar for two reasons: the “AI-designed active” positioning is becoming a real market story, and BASF’s published data suggest a broader collagen-homeostasis effect than a typical single-mechanism active.
Key takeaways
- SkinNexus™ Collag3n is a yeast-fermented, vegan Collagen III fragment matched to the human amino-acid sequence.
- It was co-developed by BASF and Bota Biosciences using an AI-driven biomanufacturing platform that screened over 2,000 candidate fragments.
- BASF’s published data show measurable collagen-homeostasis effects in 3D dermis models and visible anti-aging results in a 4-week clinical study on women aged 53–70.
- It launched alongside a companion peptide, NeoHelix™ Regenerate, targeting the same collagen-renewal pathway.
- We are evaluating it as part of our ongoing active-ingredient scouting — we have not yet formulated, tested or launched any product with it.
What we’re actually doing: watching, not claiming
To be upfront: this is not a case study. ORIZI Group has not formulated with SkinNexus™ Collag3n, run our own trials on it, or partnered with BASF or Bota Biosciences on this ingredient. What we are doing is what we do for most notable new actives — reading the supplier data, checking how the claims are substantiated, and thinking through where it would realistically fit if a client brief called for a next-generation collagen story.
That distinction matters to us. Cosmetic active ingredients get relaunched every few months with bold claims, and part of our job as an OEM/ODM partner is separating a genuinely interesting mechanism from marketing noise before we recommend anything to a client.
Why this one caught our attention
A few specifics from BASF’s own data made SkinNexus™ Collag3n worth a closer look rather than a passing mention:
- It’s not a single-note ingredient. BASF reports increases across Collagen I (+48%), Collagen III (+82%) and Collagen V (+71%) in 3D dermis-model testing — a broader remodeling signal than a Collagen-III-only active would typically claim.
- The clinical population is realistic. The 4-week study was run on women aged 53–70, which is a meaningfully different (and arguably more useful) test group than the 25–35 cohorts some anti-aging actives are validated on.
- The “AI-designed” story is becoming commercially real, not just a trade-show slide. Bota Biosciences’ Saion platform was used to screen thousands of collagen fragment candidates before BASF took this one to market — and BASF is positioning the result as a more cost-accessible option than premium collagen actives, which could matter for brand briefs with tighter active-ingredient budgets.
Where an active like this would fit in a formulation brief
If a brand came to us wanting to build around a “collagen banking” or next-generation collagen story, product formats like anti-aging serums, ampoules, night creams and eye-contour treatments are the natural fit for a water-soluble protein active like this. As with any new recombinant protein or peptide ingredient, our formulation process would start the same way it always does: requesting the official technical data sheet and safety documentation from the supplier, running compatibility and stability screening in the target base, and confirming substantiation for any on-pack collagen claim before it goes anywhere near a client’s packaging.
Limitation: we don’t have independent formulation or stability data on SkinNexus™ Collag3n ourselves yet, and BASF has not published a full public technical data sheet at the time of writing. Anything below the level of BASF’s own press disclosures should be treated as “worth investigating further,” not “confirmed.”
FAQ
Has ORIZI Group formulated any product with SkinNexus™ Collag3n?
No. We are evaluating the published supplier data as part of routine active-ingredient scouting; we have not formulated, tested or launched a product using this ingredient.
Is ORIZI Group partnered with BASF or Bota Biosciences on this ingredient?
No. This article discusses a third-party ingredient launch based on publicly available BASF and Bota Biosciences press materials and trade coverage; there is no partnership to report.
What is SkinNexus™ Collag3n, in one sentence?
SkinNexus™ Collag3n is a vegan, yeast-fermented Collagen III fragment engineered to a 100% human-identical sequence, co-developed by BASF and Bota Biosciences and launched commercially on June 30, 2026.
Could a brand ask ORIZI Group to formulate with an active like this?
Brands can bring us a brief that references a specific active or a desired claim (such as a “collagen banking” positioning), and our R&D team will assess feasibility, sourcing, formulation fit and substantiation requirements — the same process we’d run for any newly launched active.
Sources & references
- BASF & Bota Biosciences: official launch announcement (basf.com) — principal/supplier source
- BASF: “A new era of collagen science” – in-cosmetics Global 2026 debut
- Personal Care Insights: BASF debuts collagen ingredients powered by AI and bioengineering
- Premium Beauty News: BASF advances collagen-targeting strategies with two new active ingredients
- OEMHallmark: SkinNexus™ Collag3n – market-insight deep dive
Update history
July 2026 — initial publication.
What’s next
If you’re a brand exploring a next-generation collagen or “collagen banking” positioning and want to talk through what’s realistic to formulate, sample and substantiate, you’re welcome to reach out to our team via orizigroup.com or [email protected]. We’ll always tell you plainly what we have and haven’t tested.
