SKINCARE specialist Derma-salve has won the global licence to market and distribute a range of new cleansing products, in a deal that could be financially "significant" for the business.

The Newcastle company yesterday announced the deal with Biospan Technologies, which allows Dermasalve to sell the environmentally and dermatologically-friendly products world-wide, except in the US and Canada. The products are expected to launch later this year. The first will be a waterless hand cleanser, hailed as a product to complement Dermasalve's SafeCleanse gel.

SafeCleanse, which will launch in Thailand in May, is 99.9 per cent effective against the H5N1 strain of bird flu and superbug MRSA.

Dermasalve chief executive, Dr Mark Randle, said interest in the products has already been significant.

"This is a significant commercial move for Dermasalve," he said.

"Dermasalve will be addressing a gap in the market with this new product range, and we recognise that the company has an opportunity to grow sales faster."