As a commissioned business, we hope to undertake the safety evaluation of various chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, eyedrops and cosmetic materials, vis-a-vis human corneal epithelial cells. To this end, we are developing a system for evaluating such chemicals.
Evaluation by this system will employ cultural corneal epithelial cell sheets derived from dogs and rabbits. These cell sheets will be prepared in the same way as cell sheets for transplant. Chemical safety is evaluated by examining how the epithelial cells react to specific chemical exposure.

In recent years, with a view of preventing cruelty to animals, demand has been growing for alternative methods to test pharmaceuticals, eyedrops and cosmetic materials in the process of developing such products. We believe it possible to evaluate the effects of chemicals on the corneal epithelium by using cultured corneal epithelial cell sheets derived from dogs and rabbits. With such sheets, we will be able to establish a chemical evaluation system that is less expensive, simpler and more sensitive than current methods.