Genoskin Raises $8.7M Series A to Advance Ethical, Human-Based Models That Deliver Reliable Insights for Safer, More Predictive Drug Development

• Financing to accelerate international expansion and strengthen scientific leadership
• Company moving into two new production sites in France and US in next two years to meet international demand for ethical and sustainable alternatives to animal testing.

16 September 2025 -- Toulouse, France, and Massachusetts, US -- Genoskin, the first Contract Research Organization (CRO) to develop ex vivo human skin platforms capable of testing injected drugs and implanted medical devices, today announces it has raised $8.7 million (€8M) in its first funding round.

Beyond providing a unique human-relevant alternative to animal testing, Genoskin’s models generate large-scale datasets through multiomics approaches, which are further analyzed using AI and advanced bioinformatics to deliver meaningful insights into the toxicity and efficacy of tested products in humans. The investment round, led by OCCTE (FPCI Occidev Impacts), alongside Captech Santé, GSO Innovation and CA Toulouse 31 Initiatives (CAT31i) includes $5.4 million (€5M) in equity investment. This is supplemented with $3.3 million (€3M) in non-dilutive financing in structured bank debt, provided by Bpifrance and local banking partners: BNP Paribas, Caisse d’Epargne Midi-Pyrénées and Crédit Agricole.

The financing will drive Genoskin’s next phase of growth and support further staff recruitment, with a view to doubling the size of the company within the next three years and to expanding Genoskin’s commercial presence in key global markets. This will include new strategic hires in Europe and Asia by 2026. Genoskin plans to launch new immune-centric service offerings by 2027 and strengthen its scientific and regulatory leadership with the development of biosimulation platforms and novel human immune models to reduce reliance on animal testing.

Genoskin will also scale up operations through industrial automation and increased production capacity in both the US and France, by moving into its two updated and expanded facilities - in Salem, MA (7,500ft2/700m2) in 2026 and in Toulouse, France (10,700ft2/1,000m2) in 2027. This will double the production of skin models and launch the production of fresh human primary mast cells for next-day delivery in the US.

“This funding gives Genoskin the resources to scale globally, strengthen our presence in key markets and accelerate the development of our innovative platforms. As a company built on ethical innovation, we are proud to offer sustainable, human-relevant alternatives to animal testing. This investment validates our strategy and reinforces our position as a leader in predictive immunotoxicology using live human skin models,” said Pascal Descargues, Ph.D., CEO of Genoskin. “With the support of our investors, Genoskin is well-positioned to drive meaningful change in how biotherapies are developed, ultimately bringing safer treatments to patients worldwide.”

The non-clinical testing market is undergoing a significant transformation. Demand for alternative testing models is projected to grow from $108.6 billion in 2025 to $155.4 billion by 2034 at a CAGR of 4.1%. At the same time, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies face mounting international pressure from regulatory bodies to reduce or eliminate animal testing, creating a clear demand for ethical alternatives.

Genoskin meets this need with its scalable and sustainable alternative to animal testing. By leveraging donated human skin and its proprietary preservation technology, the company provides live immunocompetent ex vivo platforms that remain viable for up to seven days post-surgery, enabling more predictive, human-relevant testing than traditional animal or engineered models. Backed by a robust IP portfolio, an established tissue sourcing network and a proven scalable service model, Genoskin’s solutions deliver translational human-relevant insights that improve predictability and regulatory acceptance. This combination gives Genoskin a unique competitive advantage in supplying biopharma, cosmetics and cell and gene companies with models that reflect human physiology, especially for skin-related delivery routes such as injectables, including vaccines and topically administered therapeutics.

“We are proud to support Genoskin, a company that perfectly embodies our mission to invest in local innovators delivering sustainable solutions with global reach. Genoskin’s technology offers an ethical, scalable alternative to animal testing and pursues a growth strategy that aligns strongly with our values of economic resilience and scientific impact,” said Julien Gomis, managing partner at OCCTE.

“Captech Santé is pleased to contribute to the financing of Genoskin, a company capable of setting new global standards in the development of injectable drugs and that already counts most major global pharmaceutical companies among its clients,” added Alexandre Demailly, investor at Captech Santé.

As part of this round, Genoskin welcomes to its Board of Directors: Julien Gomis (OCCTE), Alexandre Demailly (Captech Santé), Emmanuelle Ostiari (OCCTE), and Anaïs Raluy (GSO/CAT31i).

Legal advisors for Genoskin: HBC Avocats (France)
Legal advisors for the investors: FIDAL Avocats (France)

About Genoskin
Genoskin is a biotechnology company transforming drug and vaccine development through its unique expertise in skin biology and immunology. By leveraging donated human skin and proprietary preservation technology, Genoskin provides immunocompetent ex vivo platforms that remain viable for up to seven days post-surgery - enabling more predictive, human-relevant testing than traditional animal or engineered models. Founded in 2011, Genoskin offers a suite of advanced solutions - including HypoSkin®, ISR Platform®, and InflammaSkin® - to evaluate immune responses, injection site reactions and skin toxicity for a range of therapeutics, biologics, vaccines, medical devices and chemicals. Through a combination of next-generation sequencing, advanced imaging and expert scientific guidance, Genoskin helps pharmaceutical, biotech and cosmetics companies accelerate development with greater confidence and accuracy. Headquartered in both North America and Europe, the company operates state-of-the-art R&D and production facilities in Salem, Massachusetts (USA) and Toulouse, France. It employs 42 staff globally. Visit: www.genoskin.com.

About OCCTE (FPCI Occidev Impacts)
OCCTE is a portfolio management company approved by the AMF and created in 2021. Through the funds it manages, OCCTE — also a mission-driven company — aims to help build a sustainable, resilient, and high-performing economy. Based in Toulouse and Montpellier, France, it covers both regional and national territories, with the support of its shareholders: the Occitanie Region through AREC Occitanie, and the Magellim Group. Occidev Impacts is a private equity fund that aims to direct investment towards a sovereign and sustainable economy, rooted in local territories while creating value and visibility for investors. Backed by the economic ambition of the Occitanie Region, which seeks to foster the emergence of strategic players within key industries, the fund targets a network of growing local businesses with the potential to expand nationally and internationally. Visit: www.occte.fr/occidev.

About Captech Santé
Captech Santé is a national expert fund dedicated to healthcare, investing across four verticals: biotech, medtech, foodtech, and digital health. Captech Santé supports seed and Series A companies that leverage high-potential research, with a strong focus on clinical impact and global market access. Visit: www.finorpa.fr/gestion/fonds-captech-sante/

About GSO Innovation
GSO Innovation is a seed and early-stage fund operating in the Greater South-West of France. As a generalist fund, GSO Innovation supports ambitious technology startups across a variety of sectors, including SaaS, healthcare, and advanced industry. The fund focuses on projects built on strong intellectual property foundations and with significant potential to transform established markets. Visit: www.gsocapital.com/gso-innovation

About CA Toulouse 31 Initiatives
CA Toulouse 31 Initiatives supports innovative businesses and contributes to their development by offering personalized, day-to-day banking services from the moment an account is opened, connecting with stakeholders in the Crédit Agricole Group's internal and external innovation ecosystem through our partners, and providing financial support.
As part of the same Crédit Agricole ecosystem, Crédit Agricole Toulouse 31 Initiatives (CAT31i) complements this approach by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. Through tailored financing and long-term support, CAT31i helps promising local companies to accelerate their development and scale internationally. Visit: 
https://e.ca-toulouse31.fr/Banque_Innovation_by_CA31/index.html