Evocutis plc (AIM:EVO), the company focused on advanced laboratory and clinical evaluations of skincare products for the health and cosmetic markets, is pleased to announce the launch of the first of its LabSkin™ in vitro skin models, to support antimicrobial and skin microbe balancing (prebiotic) product claims. LabSkin™ is an animal-replacement technology which emulates living skin and is a high-value research and product testing tool for the cosmetic and healthcare industries.

On the launch, Dr Stephen Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Evocutis, said: “Currently, in the development of new cosmetics, 80-90% 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 study of microbe-balancing strategies using nutrients targeted at the skin’s “good bacteria”. This paves 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.”

Evocutis’ integrated approach to skincare development provides a unique portfolio of testing services to take ingredients and formulations from laboratory to clinical studies at a single site. Alongside LabSkin™, the company has both laboratory and clinical testing services for skin care products, formulations and ingredients.