In Silico / In Vitro Testing Resources

3T analytik manufactures AUREA gTOXXs, an automated screening solution for assessment of the genotoxicity potential of ingredients in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, nanoparticle, and medical products. The gTOXXs assay detects DNA damage and repair using automated endpoint measurements and is applicable to 3D tissue models, human organ cells, and cell culture, e.g. the hepatocyte-like HepaRG cell line.

Alcyomics, Ltd., offers in vitro human-based pre-clinical drug safety testing. It manufactures Skimune (human skin explants for safety and efficacy testing) and offers immunogenicity services, efficacy testing of immunomodulators, hypersensitivity testing, potency assessment, cellular and cytokine assays, and safety assessment services.

AllCells, LLC, offers more than 150 primary cell types and related RNA and cDNA from normal and disease-state tissues. Cell types include stem cells (progenitor, CD34+, etc.), hematopoietic, human hematologic disease, endothelial, dendritic, HUVEC cells, and many others. It also offers services, such as drug discovery, device validation, flow cytometry and cell sorting, tissue culture protein analysis and genotyping, as well as stem cell and immune assays.

Alternative Toxicity Services offers high-content screening for evidence-based acute general toxicity and neurotoxicity.

AlveoliX has developed a lung-on-a-chip for preclinical testing. It is a biotech start-up of the Artificial Organs (ARTORG) Center for Biomedical Engineering Research of the University of Bern and of the University Hospital of Bern.

Attagene, Inc., offers unique screening services for the evaluation of biological activities and prediction of potential toxicities of pharmaceuticals, agricultural and industrial chemicals, cosmetics, and nanomaterials. Using its proprietary pathway profiling platform, the FACTORIAL™, Attagene has developed a suit of bioassays that assess the impact of a compound on activities of over 90 gene regulatory pathways and all 48 human nuclear receptors.

AxoSim produces Nerve-On-A-Chip technology and a 3D brain organoid.

BioScreen Testing Services, Inc., routinely conducts human repeat insult patch tests (HRIPT) and offers a variety of in vitro product assessment services. HRIPT results can be used in place of animal-based skin irritation and sensitisation tests for certain products.

BioTeSys GmbH provides chemical analysis, clinical trials, and in vitro analysis for sectors, such as the food industry, cosmetics, and consumer healthcare.

Celentyx, Ltd., offers the Immuno-Profiling™ platform for rapid analysis of drug action on physiological and pathological human immune tissues and cells. It also offers NCIP™, which allows for rapid analysis of drug action on human immune tissues and cells to predict potential therapeutic utility in a number of conditions (e.g., inflammation, autoimmune disease, allergy, prevention of graft rejection, lymphoma, and leukaemia).

Cell Alternativ works with clients to develop in vitro testing strategies for toxicity and product claims for chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other products.

Cellasys GmbH offers system solutions for real-time analysis of living cells, including various lab-on-a-chip technologies to monitor parameters such as cellular viability, pH, temperature, and oxygen. Testing services include drug testing, environmental monitoring, food testing, chemical risk assessment and research on diabetes, nutrition, and biofuels.

CellSystems Biotechnologie Vertrieb GmbH develops and produces primary cell culture systems, stem cell culture systems, three-dimensional cell culture models, and three-dimensional human skin models (epiCS) for regulatory toxicology and research purposes. epiCS (previously known as EST-1000) is an epidermal model that can be used for regulatory toxicity testing (OECD TG 439). CellSystems also offers a wide range of services, including contract research, in vitro assay development, and in vitro toxicological testing.

Central BioHub offers biobanking services and human biospecimens for research and development purposes.

Centrillion Technologies provides sequencing, high-throughput genotyping, and bioinformatics services.

Certara offers computational modeling and simulation services, such as the Simcyp population-based simulator, which is used to model pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in virtual populations and thereby predict drug-drug interactions and pharmacokinetic outcomes in clinical populations, and Model-based Meta-analysis (MBMA), which quantifies clinical trial efficacy and safety information.

chiron develops on-chip biotechnologies with a focus on platforms that apply physiological biomechanical strains to 3D cultures. Its novel technology is ideally suited for musculoskeletal organ-chip models, enabling research into diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. chiron collaborates with research institutes and provides customer-service focused research services to the pharmaceutical industry.

ClinWorld provides in vitro pre-clinical research and testing for evaluating toxicity (including dermal, ocular, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity studies) and efficacy.

CN Bio Innovations, Ltd., provides human biomimetic platforms for the testing and development of therapeutics for serious human diseases, including the LiverChip™ multi-well three-dimensional liver cell co-culture.

Corning Life Sciences provides in vitro drug-drug interaction testing and ADME services, including enzyme induction, enzyme inhibition, and transporter interaction testing.

Cultex® Laboratories provides in vitro toxicological analysis of airborne substances, such as gases, particles, volatile compounds, and complex gas mixtures at the air-liquid interface to simulate realistic atmospheric conditions (indoor and outdoor).

Cutest Systems, Ltd., produces customised safety and efficacy dermatological tests for cosmetics, toiletries, over-the-counter preparations, and dermatological products, with innovative capabilities in protocol design and clinical trial execution.

Cyprotex provides high-throughput ADME screening and customised ADME assays, in silico pharmacokinetics modelling, in vitro toxicology, endocrine disruption services, personal care and cosmetics industry services, chemical industry services, integrated drug discovery services, and physicochemical profiling services. One in vitro skin sensitisation assay offered in-house is the SenCeeTox assay, which incorporates MatTek’s EpiDerm tissue and can therefore be used to test insoluble substances and finished cosmetics products (e.g., solids, polar and nonpolar medical device extracts, gels, and creams).

Cytox provides biological testing of medical devices, cosmetics, textiles, laquers, and consumer products. Tests include cytotoxicity tests, skin irritation tests, epithelial tissue cultures, use of luminescent bacteria, and photometry/ELISA applications.

Dermal Technology Laboratory, Ltd., conducts percutaneous dermal absorption studies (OECD TG 428) that are needed as part of the safety testing of new and existing chemicals, agrochemicals, and personal care and pharmaceutical products. The company is also involved with the research and development of new products aimed at improving the delivery of drugs into and through the skin using novel formulation technology, such as the in vitro epidermis screening test (INVEST).

denovoMATRIX develops, characterizes, and manufactures chemically defined extracellular matrix pre-coated cultureware as well as a screening tool to assess cell microenvironments.

Empiriko provides proprietary Biomimiks™ technology that mimics in vivo metabolism, serving as “chemosynthetic livers” for predicting metabolism patterns, pathways, and profiles. This technology can be used to rapidly test and select drug candidates and screen metabolites.

Emulate develops organs-on-chips technology to better understand how different diseases, medicines, chemicals, and foods may affect human health.

Enthalpy Analytical, Inc., performs smoke analyses and tobacco constituent testing for cigarette filler, e-cigarette cartridges, and other tobacco products.

Epithelix Sárl manufactures and sells human tissue for use in in vitro testing. It specialises in respiratory tissues, with its main product being MucilAir™, a three-dimensional human airway epithelia construct. The company offers MucilAir samples to labs that wish to see how well they work in testing applications. It also provides contract testing for various acute and chronic in vitro studies, including inhalational toxicity and drug delivery testing.

FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, Inc. manufactures human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and custom iPSCs and iCell® products. The products can be used for drug discovery and screening, testing the safety and efficacy of drug candidates, stem cell banking, and researching cellular therapeutics.

Genetic Resources Core Facility provides equipment and services for use in human genomics studies, including cell culture and cell line establishment. It also assists with project design and custom assay development. Based at the Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Genoskin provides skin model testing kits developed from donated human skin for use in efficacy and toxicity studies. The company also is developing ex vivo human inflammatory skin models and skin cancer models.

Gentronix provides genotoxicity screening tests and services. Some of its patented screens offer the ability to detect all known classes of genotoxin. For compounds that show genotoxicity, the company offers chemistry consulting services on reducing genotoxicity early in product discovery.

The Green Neuroscience Laboratory is a non-profit academic research laboratory examining the elemental composition of the brain, neural architecture, systems dynamics, cognition, and consciousness without the use of animals.

Harmonic Pharma offers in silico services for evaluating chemical efficacy and toxicity assessment. Computational model offerings range from biological profiling to predictive toxicology for pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and chemical sectors.

HemoGenix, Inc., a contract testing laboratory for the biopharmaceutical industry, focuses on testing new drug candidates for their effect on stem and other primitive cells of the blood-forming system. The laboratory provides high-throughput screening and testing using human-relevant in vitro assays, with a partial focus on in vitro predictive toxicity testing tools (e.g., hemotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and drug-drug interaction). Most of the assays developed by HemoGenix are available as assay kits for in-house use. It also offers numerous online training and informational videos and hosts free webinars.

HemoShear, LLC, develops cell culture systems that replicate in vivo hemodynamic forces for drug discovery and development with increased human relevance.

HOT Screen focuses on the in vitro characterisation of substances under in vivo-like conditions using complex culture systems that combine primary organ cells and tissues with whole blood to approximate interactions with the human immune system.

Imagen Therapeutics focuses on phenotypic high-content screening and spheroid culture with an interest in personalised medicine and personalisation of cancer chemotherapy.

Infinite Biotech, LLC, offers in vitro- and in silico-based toxicity assessment technologies for the prediction of several chronic diseases after exposure to chemicals and particles.

In Vitro International is a provider of non-animal testing methods, including the Corrositex method to assess skin corrosion (OECD TG 435).

In-Vitro Technologies designs advanced 3D dynamic cell culture systems and custom products for in vitro models and provides workshops and practical training on the use of modular bioreactors and dynamic cell cultures.

INDIGO Biosciences, Inc., provides nuclear receptor screening services and kits, mostly for drug discovery, and will develop custom assays where needed.

InSphero AG develops three-dimensional scaffold-free microtissues for pre-clinical screening and drug discovery and testing. Pre-made, characterised microtissues can be purchased in pre-loaded 96 well plates or researchers can produce their own. The microtissues are useful in a variety of applications, including chronic toxicity testing, cancer research, and disease modelling.

Instem offers a chemoinformatics platform allowing researchers integrated access to chemistry-based data mining, visualisation, and advanced informatics techniques (prediction tools, scaffold generators, etc.).

Institute for In Vitro Sciences is a nonprofit research and testing laboratory whose offerings include ocular irritation (OECD TG 437), cytotoxicity (OECD TG 432), percutaneous absorption (OECD TG 428), dermal irritation (OECD TG 439), dermal corrosion (OECD TG 431 and 435), and dermal sensitisation testing, among other toxicity and efficacy testing assays. The Institute for In Vitro Sciences also has an extensive education and outreach program, including its International Outreach Program.

International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine provides donated organs and tissues for research and education through partnerships with organ procurement organizations, tissue banks, hospitals, and individual donors.

InvivoSciences, Inc. is a contract research organization offering human engineered tissue-based high content analysis and human micro-hearts for drug discovery.

IOMICS Corporation is an analytics company that offers The FUSION Analytics Platform, a software platform for building sophisticated in silico models to test compound response hypotheses.

IONTOX provides in vitro toxicology consulting, product development, and laboratory services to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, chemical, tobacco, and food additive industries. Also involved in research and development of new in vitro technologies, IONTOX has developed the Dynamic Multiple Organ Plate (DMOP), a multiple organ culture plate linked with micro-fluidics that assesses systemic toxicity.

J-TEC (Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd.) cultures human tissues such as skin and corneal models for use in in vitro research applications.

Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation uses an integrated platform of proteomics and bioinformatics services for drug discovery. It sells antibody microarray kits aimed at identifying signal transduction changes and other biomarkers of interest in drug discovery, and it offers immunohistochemistry services for tissue and cell samples.

Kirkstall, Ltd., produces cell culture chambers that can be connected in a modular fashion using flow of media to create physiologically-relevant conditions for in vitro cell culture. Their chambers come in multiple formats, including air-liquid interface chambers.

Kiyatec, Inc., specialises in providing advanced, three-dimensional cell-based assays and diagnostics with superior physiologic relevance for more accurate ex vivo prediction of patient response to drugs. Kiyatec is also developing robust phenotypic cell-based cancer diagnostics using viable tumour biopsies to assess patient-specific responses to available therapeutic agents.

Lhasa Limited, a not-for-profit organisation and educational charity, facilitates collaborative data sharing projects in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and chemistry-related industries. Lhasa Limited draws on more than 30 years of experience to create user-friendly, state-of-the-art in silico prediction and database systems for use in metabolism, toxicology, and related sciences.

MAT Research is a biotech startup that has developed a monocyte activation test (MAT) kit using cryopreserved pooled peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In addition to the MAT kit, it provides consulting services and technical support in setting up the MAT.

Melaka Biotechnology Corporation offers a wide range of testing services in the field of biotechnology, chemistry, toxicology, halal science, and microbiology for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

Marin Biologic Laboratories, Inc., is a contract laboratory that provides collaborative and custom research and testing and manufacturing services for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, diagnostic, and agricultural industries.

MAT BioTech B.V. is a biotechnology company with almost 20 years of experience in monocyte activation testing. At global scale, the firm provides pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers an all-in-one monocyte activation test (MAT) system using peripheral blood mononuclear cells. MAT BioTech also offers outsourced GMP certified MAT services, training, and technical support.

MatTek Corporation produces human-derived three-dimensional tissue models, including EpiOral, EpiGingival, EpiOcular, EpiAirway, EpiAlveolar, EpiAirway, EpiIntestinal, EpiVaginal, and EpiDerm. The EpiDerm model has been validated for use in the assessment of skin corrosion and irritation (OECD TGs 431 and 439, respectively).

MicroCoat Biotechnology GmbH is a biotechnology company with more than 18 years of experience in the coating of solid phases, kit manufacturing, and diagnostic testing. In close cooperation with its customers, MicroCoat develops tailored components, such as coated microplates, antigens, and antibody conjugates as a basis for diagnostic kits. MicroCoat provides laboratory services, including assay development, assay validation, and sample testing on various technology platforms. If required, laboratory services can be performed under Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) regulations.

Micronit Microfluidics designs, develops, and manufactures custom-made microfluidic components for organ-on-a-chip technology.

MIMETAS, a Netherlands based spin-off company from the University of Leiden, produces the OrganoPlate®, which implements complex tissue models with 3D tissue configurations, co-culture conditions, and a continuous perfusion of media.

MultiCASE Inc. provides computational toxicity and metabolite predictions through their CASE Ultra and META Ultra products covering a wide array of toxicity endpoints.

Nelson Laboratories Bozeman LLC. is a testing laboratory that conducts investigative studies for both standard and customised in vitro and clinical studies. It offers testing for topical antimicrobial products, disinfectants, wound care, medical devices, cosmetics, and personal care products.

Nortis develops microfluidic chips and a supporting perfusion platform that offer the flexibility to generate a variety of tissue architectures based on cell types and matrix materials selected.

Novoheart develops 2D and 3D human cardiac tissues and offers screening and phenotyping services using these tissue assays.

Organovo designs and creates functional human tissues using its proprietary three-dimensional bioprinting technology. Organovo’s goal is to build living human tissues that are proven to function like native tissues. Organovo is constructing a number of three-dimensional tissue models for research and drug discovery applications as well as building human tissues for surgical therapy and transplantation.

Oroxcell offers a broad spectrum of technologies for assessing Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) and in vitro toxicity assays to meet regulatory demands and provide a rapid source of relevant information.

PeptiMatrix provides access to an innovative animal-free peptide hydrogel platform for 3D cell culture. Designed to compete with animal-derived materials such as Matrigel, PeptiMatrix hydrogels are chemically defined, have limited batch variability, offer better handling properties, and can be customised to mimic a variety of human tissue types.

Pion, Inc., provides analytical services for the pharmaceutical industry. Analytical measurements and in-depth data analysis are performed using instrumentation parameters tailored specifically for each compound. Pion Biopharma Services’ core expertise is in solution chemistry and absorption/distribution properties of small molecules.

ProImmune, Ltd., provides unique solutions for pre-clinical and clinical immunology research, including a comprehensive antigen characterisation platform, and products and services for tracking antigen-specific immune responses.

Propagenix has developed skin and airway tissues and collaborates with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that wish to use the technology.

Puracyp research is focused on high-volume screening of new chemical entities to identify potential inducers of P450 enzymes and ABC transporters. Puracyp’s nuclear receptor activation service utilises either stably integrated cell lines or transiently transfected cells harbouring P450 enhancer elements in reporter gene constructs and human or animal nuclear receptors, including the Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) and Constitutively Activated Receptor (CAR).

Pyrodex uses monocyte activation test technology to test injectable and implantable therapeutic products for microbial contamination.

Q2 Solutions offers in vitro bioanalytical, biomarker, immunoassay, and pharmacokinetic services for pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic customers. Acquired by Quintiles.

QCIF (the Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation) provides bioinformatics services, such as scientific software development, for researchers to analyse and manage large-scale datasets.

Qima Life Sciences provides computational and in vitro research and testing services to the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and veterinary industries.

ReproCELL Inc., develops stem cell technologies such as human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, neurons, and hepatocytes. It also offers a large human tissue repository, and it produces three-dimensional scaffold technology that can be used to culture numerous types of cells under human-relevant conditions. In addition to static systems, their technology can be used to create complex co-culture systems under dynamic flow conditions.

SABEU manufactures products for use in in vitro research and testing, including filter membranes and standard and custom cell culture inserts. They also collaborate with customers on the development of specific plastic molding products and membranes.

ScitoVation develops and implements in vitro and computational approaches to assess potential health effects of drugs, food ingredients, and chemicals.

Senzagen offers services to classify chemical skin and respiratory sensitizers utilizing their Genomic Allergen Rapid Detection (GARD) assays. These assays (GARDSkin and GARDAir) use genomic biomarker signatures for hazard prediction.

SiMPLInext offers next generation cell-culture inserts that are made of ceramic, perforated in a periodic pattern, and are 20x thinner than traditional plastic inserts. Leveraging micro fabrication tools, SiMPLInext further enables the inclusion of sensors and MEMs in contact with cells for the continuous monitoring of their metabolism, confluence, and health.

Simulab Corporation is a medical technology company offering training tools that replicate human anatomy.

Simulations Plus develops Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) modelling and simulation software, including GastroPlus and ADMET Predictor.

SkinEthic Laboratories produces human-derived three-dimensional tissue models, including skin, corneal, oral, gingival, and vaginal models. SkinEthic’s EpiSkin model has been validated for use in the assessment of skin corrosion and irritation (OECD TGs 431 and 439, respectively).

Stemina offers two human embryonic stem cell-based assays to predict the developmental toxicity potential of test compounds (DevTOX Discovery™ and DevTOXqp). Stemina is also developing human-based tests that screen compounds for the potential to cause cardiotoxicity.

StemoniX produces microOrgans®, which are plates containing microtissues engineered from human induced pluripotent stem cells that can be used in high throughput drug screening.

StratiCELL manufactures three-dimensional human skin models and conducts in vitro safety and efficacy testing using monolayer cultures, reconstituted human epidermis, and ex vivo skin explants.

SynDaver™ Labs manufactures synthetic human tissues and body parts, including anatomy models, organ models, and the SynDaver™ Synthetic Human, that mimic the mechanical, thermal, and physicochemical properties of live tissue and can serve as replacements for live animals in medical device studies, clinical training, and surgical simulation. It also has developed a similar canine model.

Syntivia conducts in vitro tests, including for biological screening and substantiation of cosmetic claims, on active ingredients and formulas for cosmetics.

SynVivo, LLC offers a microchip platform with a physiologically realistic microfluidic environment permitting the real-time study of cellular behavior and interactions, drug delivery, and toxicity effects.

Taihoya manufactures a dynamic culture system that simulates a physiologically relevant microenvironment to culture cells.

TissUse produces a two-organ-chip which models biological barriers and three dimensional organ environments. Micropumps and microfluidic channels interconnect the organs and enable substances to be tested in life-like models. TissUse plans to develop a ten-organ-chip by 2017.

ToxBank is a warehouse of compound and toxicity data and a reference resource for cells, cell lines, and tissues of relevance for in vitro systemic toxicity research.

Toxys develops and offers a broad spectrum of unique animal-free laboratory tests for safety assessment. Toxys expertise covers genotoxicity, developmental toxicology, and mechanistic toxicity testing. The assays focus on understanding the mode-of-action. The ToxTracker® assay accurately identifies genotoxic compounds, ReproTracker® detects developmental toxicity, and the ToxProfiler™ assay provides a broad toxicity profile of compounds.

Upcyte, a life science company, specialises in the controlled, scalable propagation and standardisation of human primary cell products. Medicyte has developed unique and proprietary cell proliferation platforms that form the basis for novel cell-based research and drug development tools and future cell therapy products.

VaxDesign the MIMIC® (Modular IMmune In vitro Construct) System simulates the human immune system and is capable of predicting efficacy and potential toxicity of new vaccines and immunotherapies in a high-throughput (automated) way.

Visikol offers a wide range of contract research services, including 3D cell culture assays, tissue imaging and analysis, digital pathology, and custom drug discovery. It also offers Hµrel liver models, which are cell-based tissue constructs composed of primary cells of the human or other species that are metabolically competent.

VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) is a research and contract testing laboratory that maintains Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)-certified facilities for interlaboratory validation studies.

Vitrocell Systems GmbH manufactures exposure systems for in vitro studies of airborne substances, such as gases, complex mixtures, and nanomaterials. Research applications include the study of combustion exhaust, household chemicals, and tobacco smoke, among others.

VitroScreen is a research organisation that conducts in vitro pre-clinical and regulatory toxicological services for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, chemicals, cosmetics, nanomaterials, food, biocides, and plant protection products.

XCellR8 is an animal-free, GLP-accredited laboratory that tests the safety and efficacy of raw materials and finished products for cosmetic and chemical companies and ingredient manufacturers around the world. Its animal-product-free adaptations of existing tests for skin sensitisation, skin and eye irritation, and skin corrosion have gained regulatory recognition from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and European Chemicals Agency.

Xenometrix AG services include genotoxicity testing (Ames test), cytotoxicity testing, and an assay to screen for estrogenic and androgenic endocrine disruptors.

Please contact [email protected] to suggest additional in vitro or in silico testing resources.

Disclaimer: Inclusion on this list does not signify an endorsement from the PETA Science Consortium International e.V.

Alternative Method Groups

EURL ECVAM
The European Union Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM) validates methods which reduce, refine, or replace the use of animals for safety testing and efficacy/potency testing of chemicals, biologicals, and vaccines.

ICCVAM
The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) is an interagency committee composed of representatives from 16 federal regulatory and research agencies that require, use, generate, or disseminate toxicological testing information used to determine the safety or potential adverse health effects of chemicals and products to which workers and consumers may be exposed. The ICCVAM website contains a wealth of information including a resource for information about funding opportunities for developers of replacement, reduction, and refinement methods (see here).

JaCVAM
The Japanese Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (JaCVAM) promotes reduction, refinement, and replacement of animal testing for the evaluation of chemical substance safety in Japan and establishes guidelines for alternative experimental methods through international collaboration.

KoCVAM
The Korean Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (KoCVAM) seeks to review, validate, and institutionalize alternatives to animal testing through cooperation between domestic and foreign organizations and promotes globally alternative test methods developed by Korean organizations.

BraCVAM
The Brazilian Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (BraCVAM) identifies, nationally and internationally, alternative methods to replace animal testing and is responsible for reviewing proposals from universities, research institutions, and industries that have developed new methods to be considered for adoption in Brazil.