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Fresh breath innovation for oral care products
  • Background
  • What we're looking for
  • What we can offer you
  • Who we are
  • Q&A
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Get them answered by the team at Haleon.
Background

Consumers consistently seek fresh breath benefits in oral care products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and denture adhesives. These effects are typically delivered through flavours in oral care products, along with active ingredients known for their antibacterial properties, such as cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and chlorhexidine, which reduce the bacteria responsible for malodor. In addition, ingredients like zinc salts can chemically neutralise the volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) that cause bad breath. However, reliance on these traditional approaches may not fully meet the evolving expectations of today’s users. 

 

There is a growing interest in exploring more advanced, longer-lasting breath freshening solutions that go beyond the use of flavours and traditional chemical agents. Many consumers express concern about how these ingredients impact taste, especially when freshness is expected to last throughout the day. For products like denture adhesives, which remain in the mouth for long periods and are often assumed to be ingested, there is sensitivity to ingredients perceived as overly strong or aggressive. Additionally, while mouthwash is a common format, its usage can vary widely, and there is a clear interest in alternatives that support fresh breath between brushing occasions. 

 

These gaps highlight the opportunity to explore innovative solutions that offer improved breath control without compromising taste or consumer comfort.

What we're looking for

We are looking for new ingredients, raw materials, and technologies that either enhance fresh breath or reduce malodour (from sulfur or other volatile compounds), with an emphasis on longevity. Ingredient solutions should be suitable for daily-use toothpaste, mouthwash, or denture adhesive formulations. We are open to both prevention and treatment approaches, as well as alternative oral care formats/technologies that deliver effective breath-freshening benefits.

Solutions of interest include:
  • New ingredients, raw materials, and technologies that either enhance fresh breath or reduce malodour
  • Technologies that actively neutralize odour compounds rather than masking them (open to any effective mode of action)
  • Bio-based or enzymatic ingredients
  • Prebiotics & postbiotics
  • Natural ingredients
  • Slow-release or encapsulated technologies that extend the duration of fresh breath
  • Non-rinse oral care formats (e.g., films, lozenges, sprays)
  • Solutions targeting specific dietary-related odours (e.g., coffee/garlic)
Our must-have requirements are:
  • Preliminary efficacy data in vitro or in vivo evaluating the performance of the actives/technologies/formats
  • Proven or planned safety and toxicity data supporting daily oral use, whether leave-in or rinse-out
  • Indicative cost/kg to support feasibility assessment for potential inclusion in daily-use consumer products
Our nice-to-have's are:
  • Supports ≥12 hours of freshness or keep freshness/prevent odours throughout the day
  • Suitable for global regulatory approval (e.g., cosmetics, EU MDR, or US FDA OTC monograph frameworks)
  • Acceptable taste and sensory attributes, with any negatives clearly identified
  • Supports sustainability goals (e.g., low CO₂ footprint, renewable sources)
  • Applicable across multiple oral care formats (e.g., mouthwash, toothpaste, adhesives, tablets)
  • Technology/formats/ingredients already commercially available
  • Proposed mechanism of action
What's out of scope:
  • Standard flavour ingredients/blends (e.g., mint-based flavour systems)
  • Flavours/technologies providing only sensorial benefits without functional odour control
  • Conventional actives such as zinc salts, isopropyl methylphenol (IPMP), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), chlorhexidine (CHX), or sodium chlorite
  • Anything requiring alcohol within the formulation
  • Probiotics or live bacteria
  • Charcoal-based ingredients or formats
  • Nanomaterials or nano-technologies
Acceptable technology readiness levels (TRL):
Levels 3-9
What we can offer you
Eligible partnership models:
Co-developmentSupply/purchaseLicensingFee-for-serviceSponsored research
Benefits:
Sponsored Research
Funding is proposal-dependent, starting with a proof-of-concept project that has the potential for expansion based on results and opportunities. The funding range is typically from $25,000 to $100,000 for a six-month project.
Expertise
We also offer the expertise of our team of scientists for collaboration and guidance during the project's development. Possible partnerships with us include, but are not limited to, sponsored research, joint development, supply, consulting, and licensing.
Who we are

Our global team is dedicated to developing and collaborating on future-facing, scientifically proven, consumer-focused innovations and technologies. We believe that true innovation comes from collaboration and partnerships with start-ups, academia, health tech pioneers, and innovators.

Haleon has a strong portfolio of consumer health brands and plays a vital role for people all around the world, in a sector that is growing and more relevant than ever. We have five brand categories: Oral Health, Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements(VMS), Pain, Respiratory & Digestive. Our trusted brands like Sensodyne, Advil, Centrum & Voltaren improve the lives of millions globally.

 Learn more
Reviewers
Q&A with Haleon

The Q&A is now closed.

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Q.
Those who maintain good oral hygiene generally do not experience bad breath. If they do, it's likely related to underlying health conditions, often ENT-related. Are you looking for solutions to mask the problem or solve?
2
A.
Hi Ihor, Apologies for delay in response. We are seeking breadth of solutions and will be interested in both.
AS
Aniket Sabnis, Partner Enabled Innovation , Haleon
January 6, 2026
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
If we are submitting a new ingredient, does the data provided need to be specifically for use in the mouth? Can we submit publications that are not our own if our primary interest is the production of the chemical?
1
A.
Hi Henry, Happy to receive the proposal around it. As long as there is demonstrable knowledge about its safety in the mouth then that should be a good start for us to review.
AS
Aniket Sabnis, Partner Enabled Innovation , Haleon
January 13, 2026
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
Are you interested in bacteriophage-based products that target bacteria associated with bad breath? And, possibly those that target pathogenic bacteria (i.e., P. gingivalis)?
1
A.
Hello Daniel. Apologies for the delay in response and thank you for your question. Yes, we would be interested in what possibilities are out there.
DA
Dessislava Avramova, Supplier Enabled Innovation Senior Manager, Haleon
January 8, 2026
Is this response helpful?
1
0
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