SenzaGen and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) collaborate to develop next-generation test for photosensitization
SenzaGen has entered into collaboration with the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM). The collaboration means that SenzaGen, with the support of a RIFM grant, will test several substances for RIFM to assess whether some fragrance materials could cause skin allergies when exposed to sunlight, so-called photosensitization. The cooperation agreement runs through 2021.
RIFM is an international scientific organization working to promote the safe use of fragrance ingredients in consumer products. Part of RIFM's business is promoting the development of new and innovative tests for safety and sensitivity and today there are few reliable alternatives to animal testing. SenzaGen and RIFM have entered a collaboration to further develop and extend the applicability of GARD™skin to include photosensitization. GARDskin is SenzaGen's animal-free assay for assessing substances for potential allergic reactions on skin. The technology adaptation is in line with SenzaGen's strategy to meet more customer needs by optimizing and expanding its product offering.
“RIFM is a world-leading organization for research on fragrances and we are very proud of their confidence in us. The collaboration with RIFM provides a stimulating exchange of knowledge and an opportunity for us to further develop and test GARDskin in an application to assess fragrances for potential skin sensitization when exposed to sunlight. The need for measuring photosensitization risk is significant for, for example, product development companies in the cosmetics and chemicals industry, which are two of our target industries,” says Axel Sjöblad, CEO of SenzaGen.
The two organizations look forward to jointly contributing to a sustainable and ethical development of the testing market.
“Identifying the photosensitization risk of fragrance ingredients with high accuracy is a need that fragrance stakeholders have long expressed. We support SenzaGen's investment in modern technologies and animal-alternative test methods, with the goal that RIFM will be able to use new approach methodologies without compromising scientific quality,” says RIFM’s Gretchen Ritacco, Principal Scientist, Phototoxicology.
For more information, please contact:
Axel Sjöblad, CEO, SenzaGen AB
Email: axel.sjoblad@senzagen.com | Mobile: +46 705-35 93 51
Gretchen Ritacco, Principal Scientist, Phototoxicology
Email: gritacco@rifm.org | Phone: +1 201.689.8089 ext. 153
About RIFM
Established in 1966, the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM) generates, analyzes, evaluates, and distributes data to provide a scientific basis for the safe use of fragrances. RIFM has compiled the most comprehensive, worldwide source of toxicology data, literature, and general information on fragrance and flavor raw materials. RIFM’s fragrance ingredient safety assessment program draws from its comprehensive database of over 70,000 references and more than 135,000 human health and environmental studies.
RIFM assesses the safety of fragrance ingredients by the most current, internationally accepted guidelines—and has done so since its founding. The Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety, an independent, international team of researchers and academics with no ties to the fragrance industry, reviews all of RIFM’s work before RIFM submits it for peer-reviewed publication in a reputable scientific journal. RIFM makes all of its published, peer-reviewed work—current and historical—available for free at fragrancematerialsafetyresource.elsevier.com.
About GARD
GARD consists of a group of tests for analyzing chemicals’ ability to start an allergic reaction in humans. The tests are performed on human cells in test tubes (in vitro) in combination with artificial intelligence and targets companies looking to optimize their in vitro testing strategy; increasing the accuracy of their test results while avoiding animal testing. Through its precision and reliability, GARD improves the quality of customers’ decision-making and contributes to increased product safety in people’s everyday lives while reducing the number of animal experiments. SenzaGen is the only company that can offer a non-animal, so called in vitro test, for chemical respiratory allergens. The product portfolio consists of tests for skin and respiratory allergy: GARD™skin, GARD™air, GARD™potency and GARD™skin Medical Device.
About SenzaGen AB (publ)
SenzaGen’s technology enables replacement of animal experiments with genetic testing in test tubes for determining the allergenicity of the chemicals we come into contact with in our daily lives, such as those in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food products and dyes. The company’s patented tests are the most reliable on the market and provide more information than traditional evaluation methods. SenzaGen sells direct and through partners. SenzaGen has its headquarters in Lund in Sweden and a subsidiary in the US. For more information, please visit www.senzagen.com.
SenzaGen AB is listed on Nasdaq First North in Stockholm (ticker: SENZA) and FNCA Sweden AB, +46(0)8-528 00 399 info@fnca.se, is the company’s Certified Adviser.
