Is the EpiSkin model validated for skin irritation of chemicals?
Clichy, 30th April 2007 – ECVAM (European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods) has announced the validation of an ‘in vitro’ test as a full replacement method for assessing the skin-irritancy potential of chemicals. This test employs the L’Oral Episkin model; a human epidermis reconstructed on collagen. “More than twenty years of research on skin reconstruction have been recognized today” said Jean-Franois Grollier, Executive Vice-President Research and Development at L’Oral. “It is a great step towards the elimination of animal use.” Since the eighties, L’Oral has been working to develop reconstructed human skin to better understand its biological behaviour, as well as being able, in the future, to assess the tolerance of ingredients and finished products without animal tests. This work has so far contributed to L’Oral’s ability to end animal tests on all finished products in 1989. “Today, Episkin is routinely used for tolerance evaluation of our products and our commitme
