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The world’s first toxicology testing strategy without animal testing has been approved by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
Developed and validated in a joint effort by BASF and Givaudan, the testing strategy consists of three so-called alternative methods. These can be used to predict whether a substance causes allergic reactions in the skin. Unlike in the past, animal testing will no longer be necessary for this.
“We have been working towards this goal for more than 10 years,” says Dr Robert Landsiedel, VP, Special Toxicology, BASF. “This is a big step forward. Now we can also use alternative methods to answer more complex toxicological questions without animal testing.”
Dr Andreas Natsch, head of in vitro Molecular Screening at Givaudan, adds: “The strategy has a better predictivity for human allergy risks as compared to traditional animal testing.”
Before a new product is approved by the authorities and placed on the market, numerous tests must be carried out. This includes testing whether the product sensitises the skin. Until now, this has always required animal testing.
“To replace animal testing, one alternative method is not enough when it comes to skin sensitisation. To assess skin sensitisation, which is caused by a complex process in the organism, we need a combination of three methods,” Landsiedel explains. With the results from these three tests, scientists can predict whether a substance will cause an allergic reaction in humans.”
In addition to the testing strategy, another new alternative method has received OECD approval. With the so-called Kinetic Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay, researchers can predict how intense an allergic reaction is. This alternative testing method is a further achievement of the joint effort between Givaudan and BASF and can complement the now approved testing strategy. In addition to assessing whether there is a skin sensitsation potential, the new method can add information on the potency. Only with this additional test can animal testing for allergic reactions now be completely abandoned.
“We haven’t done it all alone, of course. Over the past 10 years, various companies and scientific institutions, such as the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), have worked with us to validate the individual methods of the strategy,” emphasises Dr Susanne Kolle, lab team leader at BASF. “We have trained laboratories around the world on how to use these methods to generate accurate results. The more laboratories join in, the more we can reduce animal testing in the future,” Kolle explains.
“By demonstrating that results are reproducible and predictive, trust in replacements of animal tests is growing,” adds Dr. Roger Emter, who developed one of the underlying methods at Givaudan.