Tummy-tuck skin avoids animal tests

A French firm has developed a way to keep cut-away skin from 鈥榯ummy tuck鈥� surgery alive so it can be used in cosmetics testing instead of testing on animals as is carried out in the US.

Connexion journalist

Published Wednesday 27 September 2017 - 15:00 Modified Wednesday 27 September 2017 - 15:00

Toulouse-based Genoskin uses a gel matrix to keep the human skin alive after it is donated from plastic surgery clinics.

Human skin also gives more accurate results as animal skin can present testing issues due to differences affecting toxicity.

Genoskin founder Pascal Descargues said: 鈥淎nimal testing is inefficient, time-consuming, expensive and increasingly perceived as un颅ethical.

鈥淥ur technology marks a turning point.鈥�

Since 2013 it has been illegal to sell cosmetics in the EU that have been, or contain ingredients which have been, tested on animals. However, it is not banned in the US.

Geno颅skin plans to expand to Boston to give US biotech test labs speedier access to skin samples as well as avoiding customs and other delays.

Mr Descargues said it could end animal testing.

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