● Findings from collaboration with global immunology company argenx show HypoSkin as translational human-based New Approach Methodology (NAM) platform
● SOT 2026 poster on early local tolerance screening demonstrates potential to reduce reliance on animal testing
Toulouse, France, and Salem, MA, USA, March 18, 2026 – Genoskin, the first Contract Research Organization (CRO) to develop ex vivo human skin platforms capable of testing injectable drugs and implanted medical devices, announces today the presentation of a poster in collaboration with argenx, a global immunology company, during the 2026 SOT Annual Meeting, March 22–25 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. The findings contribute to the pharmacological validation of Genoskin’s HypoSkin® biostabilized ex vivo human skin platform.
HypoSkin human skin models provide the closest
alternative to directly administering a compound into an actual person’s skin.
They are designed to help drug and vaccine developers accelerate the selection
of viable drug candidates. Thanks to Genoskin’s unique technology, these models
enable the acquisition of relevant and accurate translational human data when
it comes to injection site reactions and immune responses.
Due to a lack of validated in vitro
alternatives, formulation safety testing still relies heavily on in vivo
studies. However, the study presented at SOT shows that Genoskin’s HypoSkin
model successfully detects toxic control formulations, demonstrating its
sensitivity and in vitro-in vivo correlation. Macroscopic imaging and
histopathology consistently capture compound-induced alterations, making them
robust, translational endpoints across donors and technical replicates.
The abstract #3267, presented at the SOT Annual
Meeting and ToxExpo, is entitled ‘Hyposkin® as a human-based NAMs
platform for local toxicity and formulation safety assessment’ and is
co-authored by researchers from Genoskin and argenx.
“The study presented alongside argenx’s immunology
specialists clearly shows that HypoSkin is a valuable human-relevant
alternative to in vivo safety testing,” said Nicolas Gaudenzio, Chief
Scientific Officer at Genoskin. “Further refinement of the experimental design
and techniques could enhance its potential as a reliable alternative for
early-stage formulation safety screening, reducing reliance on animal testing.”
“Our collaboration with Genoskin reflects our
commitment to working with partners who share argenx’s standards for scientific
excellence and innovation. Its ex vivo human skin platform delivers
high-quality, reproducible data that support informed decision-making in
complex immunological settings. We see Genoskin as a trusted partner, combining
technical excellence with a deep understanding of immunology.” said Karen
Silence, Head of Preclinical Product Development at argenx.
“We are proud to be working collaboratively with
experts at one of the largest European biotech companies on toxicity assessment
of new formulations,” said Pascal Descargues, Founder and CEO of Genoskin. “We
look forward to expanding our capabilities and developing new skin models,
based on our European and global clients’ requests. This collaboration reflects
the growing demand for predictive, human-based models that enable more informed
decisions earlier in development.”
The non-clinical
testing market is undergoing a significant transformation. Demand for
alternative testing models is projected to grow from $108.6
billion in 2025 to $155.4 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 4.1%. At the same
time, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies face mounting international
pressure from regulatory bodies to reduce or
eliminate animal testing, creating a clear demand for ethical alternatives.
Genoskin meets this
need with its scalable and sustainable alternative to animal testing. By
leveraging its proprietary preservation technology and donated human skin, the
company provides live immunocompetent ex vivo platforms that remain
viable for up to seven days post-surgery, enabling more predictive,
human-relevant testing than traditional animal or engineered models.
Backed by a strong IP portfolio, an established tissue sourcing network and a
proven scalable service model, Genoskin’s solutions deliver translational
human-relevant insights that improve predictability and regulatory acceptance.
This combination gives Genoskin a unique competitive advantage in supplying
biopharma, cosmetics and consumer goods
companies with models that reflect human physiology, especially for
skin-related delivery routes such as injectables, including biologics and topically
administered therapeutics.
About Genoskin Genoskin is a Contract Research Organization (CRO)
and supplier of human skin models and primary mast cells, transforming drug
development through its unique expertise in skin biology and immunology. By
leveraging donated human skin and proprietary preservation technologies,
Genoskin provides immunocompetent ex vivo platforms that enable more
translational, human-relevant testing than traditional animal or engineered
models, and align with the evolving regulatory expectations outlined in the FDA
Modernization Act 2.0. Founded in 2011, Genoskin offers a suite of advanced
solutions to evaluate immune responses, injection site reactions and skin
toxicity across therapeutics, biologics, vaccines, medical devices and
chemicals. Through a combination of next-generation sequencing, advanced
imaging and expert scientific guidance, Genoskin supports pharmaceutical,
biotechnology and cosmetics companies in generating robust, translational human
data to accelerate development with greater confidence. In September 2025, Genoskin successfully completed
an €8 million ($8.7M) fundraising round led by OCCTE (FPCI Occidev Impacts),
alongside Captech Santé, GSO Innovation and CA Toulouse 31 Initiatives, with
additional non-dilutive financing from Bpifrance and leading banking partners. This
financing supports Genoskin’s next phase of growth, including doubling its
workforce over the next three years, expanding its commercial presence in key
global markets - particularly in Europe and Asia - and scaling operations
through facility expansion in the US and France. As part of its growth strategy, Genoskin is
advancing new immune-centric service offerings, accelerating the development of
biosimulation platforms and next-generation human immune models, and increasing
production capacity to meet the rising demand for ethical, human-relevant
alternatives to animal testing. Headquartered in North America and Europe, Genoskin
operates state-of-the-art R&D and production facilities in Salem,
Massachusetts (USA) and Toulouse, France, with about 50 employees across France
and the United States.
Media and analyst contact Andrew Lloyd &
Associates Celine Gonzalez – Lorraine Walters US: +1
203 724 5950 UK: +44
1273 952 481