Spin-off Eliminates Animal Testing

Chemical, medication and cosmetic manufacturers are obligated to test their products for possible health risks using appropriate means, as stipulated by various European guidelines. Animal testing is frequently used to determine the dangers of such products to the human eye. Aside from ethical reasons, arguments against this form of testing include high costs, delays due to approval procedures, and concerns whether the results from animal testing can be extrapolated safely to human beings. Scientists from the Institute of Solid-State Technology of RWTH Aachen are now involved in leading the founding of the company KERATAS. The name comes from the Greek word keratos , meaning cornea. It shall solve the dilemma, on the one hand, to produce obligatory proof of product acceptability and, on the other hand, the protection of animals. The planned company will provide a new means of analyzing the impacts of chemical, pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic products without using animals.