German chemical and pharmaceutical producer Merck KGaA has signed an exclusive agreement with Laboratory Skin Care to market the U.S. company's cosmetic active ingredient Hydroxysomes Calcium.

Under the agreement, Merck will market the ingredient globally under the co-brand name Ronacare Hydroxysomes Calcium, starting from October of this year.

The product is said to accelerate skin regeneration by transporting the mineral into deeper skin layers several folds more effectively than conventional alternatives.

"Hydroxysomes Calcium fits perfectly within our expanding portfolio for providing our customers with anti-active ingredients that are technologically sophisticated, patent-protected and globally approved," said Michael Weiden, head of Functional Materials within Merck's Pigments & Cosmetics business unit.

Zari Mansouri, CEO of California-based Laboratory Skin Care, added that, beyond the benefit of being able to tap the German partner's sales channels, "we're confident that the two brands, Hydroxysomes and Ronacare, will optimally complement each other."