Non-animal tox tests "make sense" as screening tool for in vivo tests, FDA says.
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
NON-ANIMAL TOX TESTS MORE APPROPRIATE AS SCREENING TOOL FOR CHEMICALS, FDA said, as federal agencies attempt to reduce the use of animal testing. The agency is concerned, however, with the replacement of all in vivo trials with in vitro assays. Commenting on legislation that would ask all agencies, including FDA, to adopt in vitro alternative testing methods recommended by the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM), FDA said it supports the development of non-animal toxicological tests but suggested their use might "make sense" as a first-tier screening mechanism that then could be used to determine the necessity of animal tests. HR 3946, the ICCVAM Authorization Act, was introduced May 22 by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) with 36 co-sponsors ("The Rose Sheet" June 1, p. 7).
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Marketing In Brief
ModiFace launches forecasting tool: Toronto-based virtual makeover firm introduces ShadeCast, a makeup sampling and forecasting tool based on behavioral tracking. ShadeCast is used in conjunction with iPhone application MakeUp, which allows consumers to virtually try on makeup in hundreds of shades from brands including Revlon, Cover Girl, Lancome and Clinique. ShadeCast offers 1,000 cosmetic shades from 40 brands and assigns a ShadeScore "to approximately position the [app's] hottest and most sampled color." ModiFace exec Nikkie Gatto likens the app to radio music playlists, helping consumers "looking to capture the current look, but also provide vital market intelligence to our retail channel partners," she says in Nov. 3 release. "The value of data to demonstrate the aggregate behavior will help the industry predict the latest trends and help cosmetic manufacturers better understand the color and products which most resonate with online and iPhone virtual makeover users," the company says