Anticipating the harmful effects of chemicals without resorting to animal testing

Looking back at the success stories that marked the year 2022 at LIST, the launch of Invitrolize, a spinoff dedicated to predicting the impact of chemicals on our health without resorting to animal testing, revolutionized the world of toxicology.

Chemical-induced respiratory sensitisation is a global health issue that can result in allergic respiratory tract diseases. However, commonly available and legally approved methods for identifying skin sensitisers do not differentiate between skin and respiratory allergens.

Predicting the impact of chemicals on our health without resorting to animal testing: here is the ambition of Invitrolize, a LIST spin-off founded in June 2022 and registered with the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. The company markets innovative 3D in vitro alveolar models to predict the risks of respiratory sensitisation and irritation.

"So far, the only reliable way to identify respiratory sensitisation has been once the occurrence of people becoming sensitised on their workplace or in their homes has been observed by doctors. Our solution aims at overcoming the current limitation by further improving and optimising the only available in vitro alveolar model able to identify respiratory sensitizers. For natural or manmade chemicals, we can predict whether there is a hazard that they are respiratory sensitisers." Arno Gutleb, Leader of the Environmental Health Group

For the first time, these models can be used to predict respiratory sensitisation in realistic exposure conditions. The spin-off is based in a laboratory in Belvaux and is developing its activities in the form of a start-up with the aim of sustainably improving assessments of the toxicity of chemicals and their impact on health.

On the 2nd national 3R day, the National League for the Protection of Animals (Lëtzebuerger Déiereschutzliga) also received an award for the contribution made by LIST and its Environmental Health team to reduce, replace or significantly perfect the use of animals in research, thanks to the development of these in vitro tests on human respiratory tracts.

Find out more about Invitrolize.

Discover more success stories in the digital version of the LIST 2022 annual report.