HUNTINGTON Ƶ Huntington-based was recently recognized by state economic development officials as one of 23 West Virginia companies that grew their business by exporting goods or services to a new country last year.
ƵWe literally just started trying to export to Canada,Ƶ said Serucell founder and President Dr. Brett Jarrell.
Serucell is a small, but pioneering, biotechnology company specializing in tissue-specific secretomes, according to Jarrell.
The secretome is defined as the set of molecules and biological factors that are secreted by cells into the extracellular space. In the past decade, secretome-based therapies have emerged as a promising approach to overcome the limitations associated with cell-based therapies for tissue and organ regeneration.
ƵOur unique approach involves leveraging advanced AI (artificial intelligence) technology to create complex secretomes derived from organ-specific tissues containing multiple cell lines,Ƶ he said. ƵThis enables us to simulate organ composition and induce stress to mimic wound healing, providing a rich library of potential therapeutic combinations.Ƶ
Currently exports make up only 1% of overall sales, but Jarrell says the company will see more sales growth in the future.
ƵThis is new for us, but we plan on being available in Mexico very soon as well,Ƶ he said. ƵWe are developing multiple new product lines that we hope to release in the near future.Ƶ
SerucellƵs cosmetic products
ƵOn the cosmetic side, our focus is on developing advanced skincare solutions that utilize the regenerative properties of secretomes to enhance skin health and appearance,Ƶ Jarrell said. ƵOur products are designed to stimulate collagen and elastin production, offering visible improvements in skin texture and resilience.Ƶ
Serucell developed the worldƵs only dual-cell technology to create and produce anti-aging skincare products, and it did it in Huntington.
SerucellƵs active ingredient is called KFS (Keratinocyte Fibroblast Serum), which is made up of more than 1,500 naturally derived super proteins, collagens, peptides and signaling factors that support optimal communication within the cellular makeup of your skin.
Serucell KFS Cellular Protein Complex Serum is made start to finish at SerucellƵs laboratory in the 800 block of 10th Street in Huntington.
KFS is the creation of Dr. Walter Neto, SerucellƵs chief science officer. Neto is both a physician and a research scientist, specializing in the field of regenerative medicine with an emphasis on skin healing and repair.
ƵSerucellƵs technology unlocks the key to how our cells communicate and harnesses the signaling power actions to produce the thousands of bioactive proteins necessary to support the skins natural rejuvenation,Ƶ Neto said.
Originally from Brazil, Neto studied at Saint MatthewƵs University and completed his clinical training in England. His clinical research on stem cell cancer therapies, bone and tissue engineering and wound and burn healing led to his discovery in cell-to-cell communication and ultimately the creation of SerucellƵs KFS Cellular Protein Complex Serum.
Neto received multiple patents for the production method of Serucell KFS Serum.
SerucellƵs medical products
ƵOn the medical side, we are currently in the proof-of-concept phase for using AI to analyze and optimize these secretomes for therapeutic applications,Ƶ Jarrell said. ƵOur goal is to identify effective combinations and concentrations for potential therapeutic use, providing valuable formulas for licensing or direct sale to pharmaceutical companies. This method aims to streamline the process, reducing the need for labor-intensive cell culture and secretome manufacturing.Ƶ
Jarrell said the company is also exploring the possibility of creating new molecules from successful combinations identified in its research.
ƵThis will further expand the potential applications of our work,Ƶ he said. ƵWe are passionate about our mission and are continually advancing our technology and methods to bring innovative solutions to both the cosmetic and medical fields.Ƶ
Jarrell practices emergency medicine in Pikeville, Kentucky, and oversees all aspects of quality control for Serucell. He received his bachelorƵs degree in biology from Wittenberg University, his masterƵs degree in biology from Marshall University and his medical degree from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Jarrell completed his residency at West Virginia University and is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
Jarrell has served as a clinical instructor of emergency medicine at the Marshall School of Medicine and president of the West Virginia chapter of the American College of Emergency Medicine, and he has published peer-reviewed journal articles on stroke research.
Serucell launched in 2018
The company’s soft launch was in September 2018 at The Greenbrier Spa. The official online launch was April 2019 and has received exposure with some well-known sellers such as Neiman Marcus, local dermatologists’ and plastic surgeons’ offices and several other retail locations from New York to California. It is also sold online at .
One person who has tried the product is Jennifer Wheeler, director of development at the Huntington Museum of Art.
ƵI use the KFS Serum daily,Ƶ Wheeler said. ƵIt makes my skin softer, my makeup goes on smoother and it has reduced fine lines for me. Even though IƵm almost 50, people often think I am younger and I attribute that to my long-time use of the product.Ƶ
SerucellƵs cosmetic anti-aging range in price from $125 to $225.
Jarrell decline to give sales numbers, but said the business has been growing each year since the product was introduced. Jarrell said the company has 10 employees, including consults, to make its products and also has sales representatives across the country.
ƵWith adding exports to our business sales, we expect to continue growing,Ƶ he said.
