Skin in the game
Skin in the game
According to Descargues, demand for alternative testing methods has increased dramatically due to ban on animal testing in place in Europe for cosmetic products. A marketing ban also prohibits companies from marketing finished cosmetic products and ingredients in the EU if they have been tested on animals.
“Thus, companies from other countries, like the US, cannot use animals if they plan to sell their products in Europe,” he explained.
“Furthermore, the pharmaceutical industry is also asking for alternatives to animal testing to better predict efficacy and toxicity of drugs candidates before initiation of clinical trials. Animal models are no good to predict human skin responses.”
The human skin tissue Genoskin collects is donated skin left over after a surgical intervention, and as Descargues explained, would otherwise be destroyed.
“Genoskin collects every week fresh skin samples to produce ready to use and standardized kits containing living human skin biopsies,” he added, noting that Genoskin sources skin samples “in full respect of Ethical committee’s requirements.”
The skin models are shipped to companies globally and are placed in a standardized ex vivo culture system, which contains a biological matrix to keep the skin alive for several days.
