Schwarzkopf owner Henkel has closed its acquisition of the epiCS skin model technology from SkinInVitro.
The closing was preceded by a successful technology transfer phase, which Henkel said guarantees the unchanged quality of epiCS production.
The models will now be manufactured at Henkel’s laboratories in Düsseldorf, Germany under the Phenion brand.
The epiCS technology includes reconstructed human epidermal equivalents, officially approved by the OECD for assessing the skin-corrosive potential (OECD TG 431) and – since April 2019 – the skin-irritating potential of chemicals (OECD TG 439).
“With this acquisition we are strengthening our existing product portfolio in the field of reconstructed human tissue models,” said Dr Dirk Petersohn, who is responsible for the Phenion brand at Henkel Beauty Care.
“With the epiCS technology we can now offer our clients tissue models which are well-suited and regulatory accepted for analysing the skin-corrosive and irritating potential of substances. Hence, this reasonable complement of our already existing product portfolio gives us the opportunity to serve our customers even better.
“We are looking forward to integrating the SkinInVitro team in order to expedite together the development and distribution of alternative test methods.”
“I am pleased that our more than 20 years of experience in technology development will be continued at Henkel,” added Horst W Fuchs, founder and owner of SkinInVitro.
“It is a unique chance for the team to become an integral part of the globally acting Henkel company and to integrate its expertise in respect of the epiCS technology.”