Behind the scenes: Our R&D team explains the science of Carboxymethyl Chitosan
Four members of our R&D team—Sandrine Gautier, ; Mickaël Chausson, Senior Product Development Manager; Guillem Rocasalbas, Senior Engineer; and Elke Vermassen, Senior Product Development Manager—took us behind the scenes to explain how we develop our carboxymethyl chitosan technology at KiOmed Pharma. In this exclusive video series, they share the real story of innovation: from selecting the white button mushroom as our source material to treating patients with refractory osteoarthritis and expanding into new therapeutic areas.
Episode 1: Why the White Button Mushroom?
Sandrine Gautier, Chief Development Officer at KiOmed, explains the origin story.
Most people are surprised to learn that our medical-grade biomaterial starts with something as ordinary as a white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus).
Traditionally, chitosan is derived from animal sources, specifically waste from shellfish like shrimp and crabs. While this approach works, it comes with significant limitations: allergy risks, inconsistent quality from batch to batch, and traceability problems that make it difficult to ensure the highest safety standards for patients.
“We needed something cleaner, more reproducible, and safer for patients who would receive this as an injectable treatment,” Sandrine explains. “The white button mushroom checked every box: it’s a standardized food product, hypoallergenic, and sustainable. All of this is the result of more than 10 years of research and development in our labs in Liège”.
Today, every batch of carboxymethyl chitosan produced at KiOmed Pharma is fully traceable back to its mushroom source, manufactured to medical-grade standards in the company’s Belgian facilities.
Episode 2: Properties of Carboxymethyl Chitosan
Mickaël Chausson, Senior Product Development Manager at KiOmed Pharma, breaks down the chemistry.
The journey begins with chitin, a biopolymer found in the cell walls of mushrooms. Chitin has attracted scientific interest for decades due to its promising potential in medical applications. However, there’s a fundamental problem: chitin is not soluble in water, which severely limits its use in medicine.
“To overcome this challenge, we developed an innovative production process that improves chitin solubility and enhances its safety for patients,” explains Mickaël, our Senior Product Development Manager specializing in biopolymer chemistry.
According to Mickaël, it offers two unique properties that make it highly valuable for treating degenerative diseases.
Episode 3: Application in Osteoarthritis
Guillem Rocasalbas, Senior Engineer at KiOmed Pharma, discusses clinical impact.
Osteoarthritis is a debilitating degenerative joint disease that affects over 650 million people worldwide. Traditional injectable treatments, such as hyaluronic acid or corticosteroids, are effective for some patients but not for all. In fact, a significant proportion of patients are classified as “non-responders” or “poor responders,” meaning their symptoms persist despite repeated injections.
“These are the patients we developed KioMedine for,” explains Guillem, our Senior Engineer who leads clinical development initiatives. “When standard treatments fail, patients are often left with limited options: ongoing pain, reduced mobility, and eventually, the prospect of joint replacement surgery.”
In preclinical and clinical development, KiOmed Pharma’s carboxymethyl chitosan has demonstrated the ability to help these difficult-to-treat patients. The mechanism is twofold: protecting joint tissues and cells by improving lubrication, and decreasing the oxidative stress typical of osteoarthritis.
Episode 4: Expanding Horizons
Elke Vermassen, Senior Product Development Manager, explores new applications.
The final episode of the series takes a step back to look at the bigger picture: if carboxymethyl chitosan works so well for osteoarthritis, could it benefit other age-related degenerative conditions?
The answer, according to Elke Vermassen, our Senior Product Development Manager specializing in formulation, is yes—and that’s exactly what KiOmed Pharma is working on.
“Aging, whether it affects joints, eyes, or skin, always involves two common mechanisms: dehydration and oxidative stress,” Elke explains. “Our carboxymethyl chitosan addresses both.”
This platform approach—taking one natural ingredient, turning it into a powerful biomaterial, and applying it to multiple health conditions—demonstrates the flexibility and potential of KiOmed Pharma’s technology. The company has already established strategic partnerships with major players in aesthetics (Sinclair Pharma), signaling confidence in the technology’s versatility.
For more information about KiOmed Pharma’s technology or to learn about our products, visit our product page or contact us at moc.amrahpdemoik@tcatnoc
