Genoskin, a French-American company operating as a contract research organisation (CRO) that develops ex vivo human skin platforms capable of testing injectable drugs and implantable medical devices, has announced that it has raised $8.7 million (€8 million) in its first round of funding.
In addition to providing a unique and relevant alternative to animal testing for humans, Genoskin models generate large-scale datasets through multi-omic approaches, which are further analysed using artificial intelligence and advanced bioinformatics to provide meaningful insights into the toxicity and efficacy of products tested on humans. The investment round, led by OCCTE (FPCI Occidev Impacts), together with Captech Santé, GSO Innovation and CA Toulouse 31 Initiatives (CAT31i), includes $5.4 million (€5 million) in equity investment. In addition, there is $3.3 million (€3 million) in non-dilutive financing in the form of structured bank debt, provided by Bpifrance and local banking partners: BNP Paribas, Caisse d’Epargne Midi-Pyrénées and Crédit Agricole.
The funding will fuel Genoskin’s next phase of growth and support the hiring of new staff, with the goal of doubling the size of the company within the next three years and expanding Genoskin’s commercial presence in key global markets. This will include strategic new hires in Europe and Asia by 2026. Genoskin plans to launch new immune system-focused services by 2027 and strengthen its scientific and regulatory position with the development of biosimulation platforms and new human immune models to reduce reliance on animal testing.
Genoskin will also expand its operations through industrial automation and increased production capacity in both the United States and France, moving into its two upgraded and expanded facilities: in Salem, Massachusetts (700 square metres) in 2026 and in Toulouse, France (1,000 square metres) in 2027. This will enable it to double its production of skin models and begin manufacturing fresh human primary mast cells for next-day delivery in the United States.
This funding provides Genoskin with the resources to expand globally, strengthen our presence in key markets, and accelerate the development of our innovative platforms. As a company founded on ethical innovation, we are proud to offer sustainable and human-relevant alternatives to animal testing. This investment confirms our strategy and strengthens our position as a leader in predictive immunotoxicology using living human skin models, said Pascal Descargues, CEO of Genoskin, in a statement (pictured) – With the support of our investors, Genoskin is ideally positioned to drive meaningful change in how biotherapies are developed, ultimately delivering safer treatments to patients worldwide.”
The non-clinical testing market is undergoing a significant transformation. Demand for alternative testing models is expected to grow from $108.6 billion in 2025 to $155.4 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 4.1%, the company reports in a statement. At the same time, biotech and pharmaceutical companies are facing increasing international pressure from regulatory bodies to reduce or eliminate animal testing, creating a clear demand for ethical alternatives.
Genoskin addresses this need with its scalable and sustainable alternative to animal testing. Using donated human skin and its proprietary preservation technology, the company provides live, immunocompetent ex vivo platforms that remain viable for up to seven days after surgery, enabling more predictive and human-relevant testing than traditional animal or engineered models. Backed by a robust intellectual property portfolio, an established tissue sourcing network, and a scalable, proven service model, Genoskin’s solutions provide human-relevant translational insights that improve predictability and regulatory acceptance. This combination gives Genoskin a unique competitive advantage in providing models that reflect human physiology to biopharmaceutical, cosmetic, and cellular and genetic companies, particularly for skin-related routes of administration, such as injectables, including vaccines and topically administered therapies.
“We are proud to support Genoskin, a company that perfectly embodies our mission to invest in local innovators who provide sustainable solutions with global reach. Genoskin’s technology offers an ethical and scalable alternative to animal testing and pursues a growth strategy that is strongly aligned with our values of economic resilience and scientific impact,” says Julien Gomis, managing partner at OCCTE.
“Captech Santé is delighted to contribute to the financing of Genoskin, a company capable of setting new global standards in the development of injectable drugs and which already counts most of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies among its customers,” adds Alexandre Demailly, investor at Captech Santé.
As part of this round, the following individuals join the Genoskin Board of Directors: Julien Gomis (OCCTE), Alexandre Demailly (Captech Santé), Emmanuelle Ostiari (OCCTE) and Anaïs Raluy (GSO/CAT31i).
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