Xcellr8

Xcellr8 is a GLP-accredited laboratory that provides animal-free in-vitro safety and efficacy testing for the cosmetics, personal care, and chemical industries. The company was founded in 2008 by Dr. Carol Treasure and Bushra Sim, who serve as CEO and Technical Director, respectively. Dr. Treasure's background in physiology, pharmacology, and developing human skin models for non-animal testing fueled the company's creation, driven by the conviction that animal testing posed both ethical and scientific problems.

The company operates a state-of-the-art laboratory at Sci-Tech Daresbury in Cheshire, UK. Xcellr8's business model is centered on providing contract research services to a global client base that includes cosmetic brands, chemical companies, and ingredient manufacturers like Lush and The Body Shop. The company specializes in creating tests that are entirely free of animal products, using human-derived cells and components to improve the scientific relevance and reproducibility of results for human safety predictions. This approach has gained regulatory recognition from organizations like the OECD and ECHA.

Xcellr8 offers a range of regulatory and non-regulatory safety and efficacy tests. Services include assessments for skin and eye irritation, skin corrosion, and sensitization. A key achievement was the development of an animal-product-free adaptation of the KeratinoSens™ skin sensitization test, which has been incorporated into OECD Test Guideline 442D. The company has received funding from entities such as Innovate UK, the Horizon 2020 programme, Unilever, and AstraZeneca to advance its research and development of new animal-free testing methods.

Keywords: in-vitro testing, animal-free safety testing, cruelty-free, cosmetics testing, toxicology, GLP-accredited lab, human cell culture, regulatory testing, efficacy testing, OECD guidelines, chemical safety, skin irritation testing, eye irritation testing, skin sensitization, vegan testing, contract research organization, human-relevant models, ethical science, personal care testing, household product testing