NEWS
Overcoming the need to reference
animal test data
ASPEN ASSISTS
KNYSNA FIRE VICTIMS THE RECENT DEVASTATING fires in Knysna and surrounds
A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT between UK-based non-
caused widespread damage
animal testing laboratory, XCellR8, and dermatological
and loss to residents from all
testing organisation, Cutest, has been launched, thanks to a
walks of life, but none more so
substantial grant by Innovate UK.
desperate than patients who
The aim of the project is to take the first steps to establishing
lost their chronic medication.
reliable correlations between in vitro and in vivo predicative
This placed a huge burden of
irritation testing, to eliminate the need to refer to historical and
primary health care work at
often unreliable animal test data. This is an exciting opportunity
clinic level where staff struggled
to develop innovative methods to provide enhanced consumer
to cope.
protection through being able to predict potential irritancy from topically applied ingredients and products.
Aspen stepped up to the plate, funding six postbasic pharmacist assistants (PABA) to relieve the
Front row: Geraldine Turner (Knysna Hospital), Annezette Louwrens (PABA), Lourencia Frans (PABA), Jackie Tau (Aspen Pharmacare) and Dr Earle du Plooy (Knysna Provincial Hospital) with Ruda Kotze (PABA), Jerome Fillies (PABA), Sinethemba Sobuz (PABA) and Xolani Ndedwa (PABA) in the back row
An important part of the application to Innovate UK was the
pressure, distributing chronic parcels and helping
support expressed by several leading personal care brands and
sisters with dispensing prescriptions. Four clinics
retailers to the objective of developing new predictive safety
and two CDCs benefitted from their professional
Staff members at the clinics were highly
testing methodologies that further remove the need to refer to
assistance at Hornlee Clinic, Khayalethu Clinic,
impressed with the professionalism and self-
historical animal testing. The two-year research programme
Sedgefield Clinic, Knysna Town Clinic, Knysna CDC
sacrificial commitment of the Aspen team. Sr
started on 1 August and is seeking to determine the correlation
and Kwanokuthula CDC.
Companie at Keurhoek Clinic commented: ‘No one
between human in vitro and in vivo data, using a panel of
Dr H Schumann, district manager for Eden/
is more cherished in this world than someone who
carefully selected reference materials to improve the sensitivity
Central Karoo in the Western Cape Department
and predictive capacity of skin irritation tests. Stewart Long,
of Health had this to say of Aspen’s ready
CEO of Cutest Systems says: ‘We are very excited to be awarded
support: ‘The amazing contribution from Aspen to
Provincial Hospital teams, Stavros Nicolaou, senior
this significant research grant from Innovate UK to undertake
support the Knysna Health services and Knysna/
executive, strategic trade development, said: ‘We
this important work. We feel that the 30 years of in vivo irritation
Bitou communities, which experienced great
felt privileged to be in a position where we could
testing and published research by Cutest, combined with
losses in various forms during the recent fires, is
extend a helping hand to those affected by the
the state of the art in vitro testing and research that XCellR8
much appreciated.’
fires that ravaged parts of the Garden Route. We
undertakes, makes this a powerful research collaboration with two leading and complementary companies.’
lightens the burden of another. Thank you Aspen.’ Commenting on the response from the Knysna
The pharmacist assistants’ work varied greatly,
are moved and humbled by the way in which our
from checking expiry dates, emergency trolleys
team was received and the appreciation expressed
and stock cards to filling up cupboards and
by the community of Knysna. It is a glowing tribute
latest funding from Innovate UK means we can continue to
assisting with chronic medication, keeping records
to the spirit that truly characterises us as South
expand our research and development capabilities, which
and ensuring all processes and procedures were
Africans – when the chips are down, we stand
puts us at the leading edge of developing new, non-animal
followed effectively.
together and help one another.’
Dr Carol Treasure, founder and MD of XCellR8, adds: ‘The
testing methods for the cosmetics industry. Many of our clients have expressed frustration with the unreliability of existing grant will allow companies to take a leap forward in accurately
NEW ENGINEERING HEAD FOR ACG
establishing how ingredients may or may not irritate the skin
THE GLOBAL SUPPLIER of integrated
prior to human volunteer trials, thus speeding up the process of
manufacturing solutions for leading
the success and profitability of the
bringing products to market.’
pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical
companies he has been associated
animal test data and its lack of relevance for humans. This
This research on developing new non-animal testing methods is essential in helping brand owners comply with the EU Cosmetics Regulation
and has significantly contributed to
companies, has hired Richard
with. I welcome Richard to ACG
Stedman as group CEO for its
and look forward to his guidance
engineering business units. ACG
and counsel.’
serves customers in 100 countries
Stedman adds: ‘ACG is a global
through its network of 15 global manufacturing facilities. In his role as group CEO, Stedman
supplier for pharmaceutical solutions Richard Stedman
will manage the entire engineering
| OCTOBER 2017 | P C Review
base and superior quality engineering solutions. The opportunity is to
business that includes products and solutions for
leverage the breadth and capability of the ACG
granulation, capsule filling, tablet presses, tablet
engineering companies to provide enhanced
coating, blister packing and cartoning.
solutions for our customers.’
Karan Singh, MD of ACG, comments: ‘I am
6
and products, with a loyal customer
A seasoned executive with extensive
extremely pleased to have Richard as part of
experience across multidisciplinary functions,
my leadership team at ACG. He has invaluable
Stedman will be based at the ACG offices in
experience in managing engineering businesses
Kandivali, Mumbai.