Symrise, the international fragrance and flavouring manufacturer, and Cutech Srl, the Italian biotech company, have joined forces to develop a new skin model as an alternative to animal testing.
Since 2003, both companies have been working together successfully on tissue cultures, and in 2007 they initiated a strategic partnership. Part of the inspiration for their joint project comes from recent changes in European cosmetics legislation: the seventh amendment prohibits the sale of cosmetic products with ingredients that were tested on animals. Since this pig skin is derived exclusively from animals intended for meat production, it fully complies with the European law.
The new skin model has numerous advantages over the reconstructed skin models that are available on the market. Unlike artificially generated products, the ex vivo pig skin has a three-dimensional structure which is ideal for depicting the natural structure of human skin. This in turn makes it possible to observe the interactions of the many different layers and cells of the skin.
Furthermore, pig skin bears a remarkable resemblance to human skin, allowing for a greater predictability with regard to the use of cosmetic ingredients.
Since the structure of this skin optimally imitates the response of human skin, tests can be conducted in a wide variety of applications. The range of the tests which are currently being developed includes safety tests on dermal irritation and sensitisation as well as efficacy tests on skin ageing and pigmentation. Another major advantage is that the pig skin can be used and cultivated without requiring sophisticated techniques that have an impact on the expense of conducting tests.
The new skin model, for which a patent is pending, is more than a way for Symrise and Cutech to respond quickly and flexibly to the needs of the market. It provides an ethical, versatile, time-saving and economical alternative to animal testing and artificial skin models, and, it is stated, this will benefit the entire international cosmetic industry.
