Evocutis launches skin model

DERMATOLOGY company Evocutis has launched the first of its LabSkin in vitro skin models.

LabSkin is an animal-replacement technology, that emulates living skin and is a research and product testing tool for the cosmetic and healthcare industries.

Evocutis, which focuses on advanced laboratory and clinical evaluations of skincare products for the health and cosmetic markets, acquired independent commercial testing facility Leeds Skin earlier this year. It was then known as Syntopix Group, which was originally founded in 2003 as a spin-out from the Skin Research Centre at the University of Leeds.

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Stephen Jones, chief executive of Evocutis, said: “Currently, in the development of new cosmetics, 80-90 per cent fail when moving from laboratory testing into human clinical trials. This is primarily because skin testing models are unable to provide reliable data to support the product’s claims.

“The ability of LabSkin to emulate real human skin, provides a new and highly valuable research tool for cosmetic developers to reduce developmental product failure rates, and provide statistical data to back up product claims and benefits.”

Dr Richard Bojar, chief scientific officer of Evocutis, added: “LabSkin is a unique product with a dry, skin-like surface that supports the natural growth of skin microorganisms. It is a highly consistent surface substrate which provides much more meaningful results than can be achieved using standard laboratory methods. Not only can it be used to study skin surface antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and C. difficile, it also allows microbe-balancing strategies using nutrients targeted at the skin’s ‘good bacteria’ to be studied, paving the way for controlling pathogenic microorganisms using the natural microflora through niche-competition.

“Recent research indicates that our natural microflora is an integral part of our skin and makes a significant contribution to skin health. LabSkin provides a unique living skin surface which is validated for microbial applications and can simultaneously provide information on irritation, penetration, barrier function and skin structure. This makes it a valuable tool for the development of innovative products.”

Alongside LabSkin, the company has both laboratory and clinical testing services for dermatology products, formulations and ingredients.

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