LAS VEGAS, April 27, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skinvisible, Inc. (OTCQB:SKVI) is pleased to announce that its licensee RHEI Pharmaceuticals NV has received marketing authorization from the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products in Belgium for HandSafe™, a unique chlorhexidine hand sanitizer made without alcohol. HandSafe™, referred to as DermSafe® in the US and Canada, is a unique, patent pending hand sanitizer formulated with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate and Skinvisible's patented polymer delivery system Invisicare®. HandSafe™ is made without alcohol so it will not dry the skin. It is proven to kill both bacteria and viruses for up to four hours including the viruses H1N1, H5N1 and H3N2.

Skinvisible licensed the commercial rights to its unique hand sanitizer to RHEI in October 2010 for Europe. This approval in Belgium is the catalyst to receiving authorization in most major countries in the European Union in an expedited manner. RHEI will now submit marketing applications for HandSafe™ under Europe's mutual recognition procedure which utilizes the marketing authorization already granted in Belgium.

"We are excited as RHEI's approval to market HandSafe™ in Belgium is a significant milestone. By leveraging this first marketing authorization, the filing process in the rest of Europe will be very straight-forward and simplified for RHEI," stated Terry Howlett, President and CEO of Skinvisible. Mr. Howlett added, "With hand sanitizer sales in Europe for the healthcare market alone valued at over $1.7 billion in 2007 and growing 25% annually, we believe that RHEI is entering a very profitable market and will acquire significant market share in a short period of time." 

"RHEI is pleased to have received the approval for HandSafe™ in an efficient and timely manner from the Belgium healthcare authorities. While waiting for approval, we have been working with potential distributors and have a number of exciting prospects for the distribution and marketing of HandSafe™," said Peter Vanderbruggen, Managing Director, Leeward Ventures SICAR SCA. "We look forward to the successful introduction of HandSafe™ in Belgium and making it available throughout Europe in the very near future."

NOTE: Skinvisible now trades exclusively on the new OTCQB (www.otcmarkets.com)

About Invisicare

Invisicare is Skinvisible's patented polymer delivery system that offers life-cycle management and unique enhancements for topically delivered products. It is a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers that hold active ingredients on the skin for extended periods of time resisting both wash off and perspiration. Invisicare can control the release of actives, reduce irritation and can eliminate some costly manufacturing processes. It is non-occlusive and allows for normal skin respiration while protecting against environmental irritants. www.invisicare.com

About Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals is a research-and-development company whose primary business objective is to license its proprietary formulations with Invisicare to pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical companies as well as assisting companies in enhancing their existing skin care products. Skinvisible receives a combination of research and development fees, upfront license fees, and ongoing royalties for the life of the Invisicare patent. Skinvisible's value also lies in its ability to continually generate new IP on dermatology and medical products formulated with Invisicare. www.skinvisible.com

The Skinvisible, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7744

About RHEI Pharmaceuticals

RHEI Pharmaceuticals NV (RHEI) is a global pharmaceutical business development firm, with special focus on bringing core medicines from the U.S., Europe and Japan into the fast-growing South-East Asian marketplace. They are experts in business development, regulatory approval and clinical development and have a management team that combines a Western approach to pharmaceuticals with a long experience in Europe, North America and South-East Asia. They use their development capabilities and network of preferred commercial partners to help other pharmaceutical companies introduce their products into specific niche markets, such as the European institutional health care market and the Chinese hospital market. RHEI is headquartered in Hong Kong and has operations in Belgium, the US and China. www.rheipharma.com

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains 'forward looking' statements within the meaning of Section 21A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties associated with an emerging company. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of risk factors discussed in Skinvisible, Inc. reports on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including, but not limited to, a report on Form 10K for the year ending December 31, 2010).