Taking Our Breath Away! PETA Scientists Honor Epithelix’s Animal-Free Innovation

For 20 years, the Swiss biotechnology company Epithelix has been the epitome of cutting-edge, human-relevant science worldwide. The company has gone above and beyond to bring toxicity testing into the 21st century using its human cell-based tissue models that can replace the use of animals in testing.

That’s why, at this year’s Lung In Vitro Event for Innovative and Predictive Models, known as LIVe, PETA Science Consortium International e.V. awarded the company, citing its excellence in advancing non-animal inhalation testing and its long-standing commitment to better science.

Epithelix develops human cell-based respiratory tissue models that mimic distinct regions of the human respiratory tract, including the nose and deep lungs. Scientists can use these animal-free models to study respiratory diseases, infections, inflammation, wound healing, and inhalation toxicity. They can evaluate the safety of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical device extracts, industrial chemicals, pesticides, cigarette smoke, and household products. In short, they help answer important scientific questions without harming animals.

Epithelix is a major force driving the transition to non-animal science, not only through its innovative models but also through its support of the scientific community. The company invests in validation, training, and access to non-animal technologies, including regular collaboration with the Science Consortium to offer hands-on workshops and technology awards and to conduct testing.

This commitment is already helping researchers put better science into practice.

At this year’s LIVe event, Epithelix and the Science Consortium jointly awarded a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid with free tissue models from Epithelix. The researcher will use the tissues to study the effects of inhaled pollutants on the human respiratory tract in a way that reflects real-world human exposure.

This is the fourth time that the Science Consortium and Epithelix have teamed up to offer this tissue award, giving researchers practical experience with advanced human cell-based methods that can replace tests on animals.

Epithelix proves that cutting-edge science means leaving animals out of the laboratory. The company’s human-relevant technology is better for humans and for animals!

Help Award More Gold Standard Science by Supporting the Science Consortium! 

For more than 10 years, the Science Consortium has worked with industries and government agencies to replace animals in toxicity tests by conducting research, publishing scientific papers, organizing and hosting training opportunities, and more.