Tobacco Companies Embracing In Vitro Toxicology

October 29, 2018

The tobacco industry is facing increased testing requirements for e-cigarettes and other tobacco products that entered the market after Feb. 15, 2007.  Companies hope in vitro tests that use human lung cells or tissues will be sufficient to show that their new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, significantly reduce harm and disease and benefit the population as a whole when compared with traditional cigarettes.  Several of them are working with independent, third-party laboratories, including the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), to standardize in vitro assays for respiratory toxicology so that results from one lab can be easily compared with results from another.

IIVS’ Holger Behrsing discusses with C&EN.