Gentronix Expands Lab Facilities, Increases Testing Capacity

Gentronix, a UK-based contract research organization specializing in toxicology, has expanded its laboratory facilities, increasing its capacity for genetic, ocular, and skin toxicology testing. The expansion will also allow the company to provide new, specialist services to meet growing global demand, Gentronix stated in a Nov. 2, 2021, press release.

The expansion includes the addition of 2300 ft2 to its footprint at Alderley Park in Cheshire, UK, which will allow the company to provide good laboratory practice (GLP) services with which Gentronix will assess chemicals for skin and eye toxicity potential using laboratory-based test systems. The expansion also increases the company’s capacity for existing GLP and screening studies within genetic toxicology.

Ocular damage and irritation tests using Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 437 and OECD 492 studies and phototoxicity testing services are being established at the new location. Gentronix will also expand in-vitro 3D-skin irritation and corrosion services to full GLP compliance in the new space. The expanded services complement the company’s existing GLP in-vitro skin sensitization studies: direct peptide reactivity assay, human cell line activation test, and KeratinoSens. The new space will also house a laboratory for the Big Blue transgenic mutation studies, which Gentronix acquired from Merck KGaA in June 2021.

“Having identified the opportunity to expand our laboratory facilities at Alderley Park, we saw this as a vital part of our growth plans, enabling us to implement important new service lines and increase existing service capacity to meet continuing growth in demand,” said Matt Tate, managing director at Gentronix, in the press release.

“The implementation of a comprehensive ocular and skin toxicology GLP service will enable Gentronix to expand our collaboration with our existing client base in the chemicals sector, as well as driving new business growth within cosmetics, consumer products, and personal care markets; newer service sectors for Gentronix. Having the ability to deliver the assessment of corrosion and irritation potential for both skin and eye, and then follow those studies up with phototoxicity and sensitization testing all at one site, with a dedicated and highly experienced scientific team, will deliver real value to our clients,” Tate added.

Source: Gentronix