UK-based production house Random House Children’s Screen Entertainment has optioned Simon Mayo’s bestselling teen book series Itch for development across multiple platforms.

The science-themed thriller series will now head into creative development by Komixx Entertainment, which jointly owns RHCSE with Random House, after the London-headquartered prodco secured worldwide TV and film rights for the IP.

It expects to launch a transmedia production to expand Mayo’s stories into digital experiences.

First published in 2012, Itch was the author’s debut novel and became the top-selling hardcover children’s debut novel of 2012. It follows the adventures of science-mad teenager Itchingham Lofte who embarks on a mission to find all the elements in the Periodic Table, and save the world from a group of villainous scientists along the way.

The novel and its sequel, Itch Rocks, are both published in the UK and the US and a third installment in the series, Itchcraft, is set for a September 2014 release.

Rights for the series were optioned by RHCSE through Emily Hayward Knight Hall Agency on behalf of RCW’s Sam Copeland.

The latest deal comes on the heels of former CBBC exec Melanie Halsall joining Komixx Entertainment in April as its head of development.

Komixx (Toby’s Travelling Circus) and RHCSE have found recent success with their book-to-screen venture Wanda and the Alien which was picked up by 70 Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels in fall 2013.