Evocutis launches antimicrobial LabSkinT model

RNS Number : 8255S

Evocutis PLC

28 November 2011

 



Press Release

28 November 2011

Evocutis plc

("the Company")

Evocutis launches in vitro antimicrobial and prebiotic assays using LabSkin™

New LabSkin™ model to validate antimicrobial claims made on cosmetic

ingredients and formulations

Evocutis plc (AIM:EVO), the company focussed 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, that emulates living skin and is a high value research and product testing tool for the cosmetic and healthcare industries.

On the launch 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 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."

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 dermatology products, formulations and ingredients. 

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For further information please contact Evocutis plc:

Evocutis plc
Dr Stephen Jones, Chief Executive Officer	[phone]
Tom Bannatyne, Chairman	www.evocutis.com

Nominated Advisor - Zeus Capital Ltd
Tom Rowley / Andrew Jones	Tel: [phone]
	www.zeuscapital.co.uk

Broker - XCAP Securities plc
Karen Kelly	Tel: [phone]
John Grant	www.xcapgroup.co.uk

Media enquiries:

Abchurch Communications
Sarah Hollins / Adam Michael / Jamie Hooper	Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]	www.abchurch-group.com

About Evocutis plc

With a rich portfolio of new product opportunities Evocutis offers antimicrobial and dermatological expertise to the cosmetic, consumer healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

Being uniquely able to combine research for laboratory testing, advanced skin models and clinical testing, Evocutis offers an integrated service for the development of skin care products and ingredients. Through research and testing we enable our clients to advance the discovery of skin care products and validate claims of efficacy.

Evocutis works with companies at all stages of the product development pipeline offering R&D solutions from ownable technology platforms through to tailored research, and now provides an independent commercial testing facility to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Unique characteristics of its colonised full thickness model of human skin (LabSkin^TM) allow rapid, cost effective screening of, for example, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial ingredients and products for use on skin.

Offering high quality contract research services, Evocutis specialises in Human Skin Microbiology, tissue culture systems and Human Volunteer and Clinical Dermatology Research. When it comes to advanced laboratory and clinical evaluations of skincare products for the health and cosmetic markets, the Evocutis focus is simple: intelligent and specialised R&D input. 

For further information, please see www.evocutis.com.

About LabSkin™

LabSkin™ is an animal-replacement technology, that emulates living skin tissue and is a high value research and product testing tool for the cosmetic and healthcare industries. It is a full thickness human skin model, comprised of both dermal and epidermal layers, and is produced exclusively and reproducibly on site at Evocutis from primary human cells (keratinocytes & fibroblasts). The model exhibits a fully differentiated epidermal layer, which provides a completely dry surface for tailored testing requirements.

LabSkin™ is highly versatile, and alongside its antimicrobial model, Evocutis is developing models to test anti-ageing and moisturising products. The antimicrobial LabSkin™ model allows testing using pathogenic microorganisms which would not be possible in human clinical studies. In addition, methods have been developed to allow LabSkin™ to be inoculated with skin washings taken directly from human skin, thus providing a step-change in the quality of data possible from a laboratory model.  By benchmarking activity against best-in-class products, the activity of new ingredients and formulations can be assessed for several antimicrobial endpoints, including immediate kill, rate of kill and residual activity. 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. 

 

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