Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration

Non-animal Safety Assessment Advocacy & Educationafsacollaboration.org

AFSA Collaboration is a Washington, DC-based non-profit partnership that convenes 20+ corporate, nonprofit, and technology organizations to accelerate the global replacement of animal testing with New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for chemicals, cosmetics, and vaccine safety assessment, via frameworks, free training, and regulatory advocacy.

Company typePrivate
Founded2015
HeadquartersWashington, United States
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration does

The Animal-Free Safety Assessment (AFSA) Collaboration is a Washington, DC-based multi-sector partnership established in 2015 and operated by Humane World for Animals, Inc. Its mission is to accelerate the global transition from animal testing to animal-free safety science for chemicals, cosmetics, therapeutics, and biologicals. The collaboration convenes more than 20 corporate, nonprofit, philanthropic, and technology organizations — including Procter & Gamble, L'Oréal, Kenvue, DSM-Firmenich, Lush, IFF, Vibrant-M (Merck), bioMérieux, Dr. Reddy's, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IABS, DCVMN, IIVS, ProtoQSAR, Revivo Biosystems, and Creme Global — to drive adoption of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) across regulatory frameworks.

Its core intellectual property consists of frameworks and educational programs rather than software: Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA), Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA), Defined Approaches (DA), and Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP) methodologies, the first-of-its-kind free 9-module Master Class in Animal-Free Safety Assessment delivered via TalentLMS, the Decision Trees project (published in Science Direct, 2025), and multi-language roadmaps for elimination of obsolete animal-based safety tests (ATT, TABST, LABST) in vaccine batch-release testing.

AFSA is structured as a non-profit and does not sell products or charge for membership. It is funded through member contributions, foundation grants (notably a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 3-year grant for human vaccine batch-release testing in BRICS countries), and award funding (2026 LUSH Prize 'Major Scientific Collaboration'). Its go-to-market is multi-channel: conferences, webinars, publications, regional workshops in Brazil/India/China/South Korea/Thailand, and partnerships with international organizations (IABS, DCVMN, HealthforAnimals). The organization has demonstrably influenced regulatory outcomes across 45 countries banning animal testing for cosmetics, India's TABST waiver for veterinary vaccines, Brazil's cosmetics sales ban, and South Korea's inclusion of recombinant Factor C in its pharmacopoeia.

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration
Legal name: Humane World for Animals, Inc.
Website: https://afsacollaboration.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2015
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: AFSA Collaboration is a Washington, DC-based non-profit partnership that convenes 20+ corporate, nonprofit, and technology organizations to accelerate the global replacement of animal testing with New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for chemicals, cosmetics, and vaccine safety assessment, via frameworks, free training, and regulatory advocacy.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration industry classification

Industry

Product category: Non-animal Safety Assessment Advocacy & Education
NAICS: Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
SIC: Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
akta.pro primary industry: Health, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAJ)
akta.pro secondary industries: Vaccine R&D, Clinical/Field Trials & Regulatory Affairs (HLAMAKAM), Immunization & Vaccine Access Partnerships (Global Vaccine Alliances) (HLAJAOAF), Animal Health Policy, Standards & International Coordination (e.g., WOAH/FAO) (HLAMAJAO)

Keywords

Animal-free safety assessment
Non-animal testing methods
Next generation risk assessment
In vitro safety science
Regulatory toxicology advocacy

Where Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Washington
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Freemium	Others	Free Master Class for regulators, manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, CROs and NGOs

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration product offering

Product offering

Core offering

AFSA Collaboration is a multi-sector non-profit partnership that advances animal-free safety science by delivering a free online Master Class in animal-free safety assessment, publishing guidance documents such as the Roadmap for elimination of obsolete animal-based vaccine tests, and producing decision-support tools like the Decision Trees project. It convenes regulators, manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, CROs, NGOs, and biologicals developers to drive regulatory acceptance of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) across cosmetics, chemicals, and biologicals sectors.

Product overview

The Animal-Free Safety Assessment (AFSA) Collaboration is a multi-sector partnership organization that advances animal-free safety science globally through advocacy, education, and regulatory transformation. The core offering consists of the Master Class in Animal-Free Safety Assessment—a free, comprehensive online training program covering 9 modules on risk assessment without animal testing. Supporting methodologies include Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA), Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA), Defined Approaches (DA), and Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP) frameworks. The organization also produces practical tools including the Decision Trees project for prioritizing animal-free methods, and the Roadmap for Elimination of ATT, TABST & LABST for vaccine testing. Educational outputs include ongoing webinars, workshops, and scientific publications. AFSA operates across cosmetics, chemicals, and biologicals sectors, advocating for regulatory acceptance of non-animal methods worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

#BeCrueltyFree Campaign: Global campaign spearheaded by Humane World for Animals and partners to end animal testing for cosmetics

Products and services

Master Class in Animal-Free Safety Assessment First-of-its-kind comprehensive online training program covering animal-free safety assessment of cosmetics and chemical ingredients. Curriculum spans 9 modules of the entire risk-assessment process, teaching how to leverage predictive biology and exposure-assessment tools for robust safety decisions without animal testing. Free of charge; available globally via TalentLMS.
Decision Trees Project Practical decision-support tool developed by AFSA to help scientists prioritize animal-free methods from the outset of safety assessment processes. Published in Science Direct.
AFSA Roadmap for Elimination of ATT, TABST & LABST Strategic roadmap document available in multiple languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian) for guiding elimination of obsolete animal-based safety tests for human and veterinary vaccines.
AFSA Webinars and Workshops Ongoing series of educational webinars and workshops covering topics including EU chemical regulation, recombinant methods for bacterial endotoxin testing, veterinary vaccine batch release, and regulatory transformation strategy. Used to build scientific capacity and consensus among regulators, manufacturers, and partners.

Quantifiable outcome

45 countries have banned animal testing for cosmetics - practice now outlawed in all major beauty markets worldwide
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration

Customer profile

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

Humane World for AnimalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization for AFSA Collaboration. Provides administrative support including website operations, staff resources (Jay Ingram, Catherine Willett, Vicki Katrinak, Aviva Vetter), and leads AFSA's Research & Toxicology Department activities. Manages AFSA's global programs including the chemicals and cosmetics workstreams.
Procter & GamblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member sharing vision of accelerating a modern, species-relevant approach to safety assessment globally. Harald Schlatter from P&G presented on experience as AFSA member and value added to industry and animal-free safety science.
L'OréalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member and supporter of AFSA Master Class. Nicolas Fabre from L'Oréal co-chairs AFSA webinars. L'Oréal contributed quote praising AFSA MasterClass for providing state-of-the-art scientific content on cosmetic safety assessment.
KenvuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member collaborating to accelerate animal-free safety assessment globally and hasten replacement of animal testing.
DSM-FirmenichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member working with AFSA to advance acceptance and use of animal-free safety science across regulatory frameworks.
LushcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member and funder. AFSA awarded Major Scientific Collaboration at LUSH Prize 2026, highlighting AFSA's commitment to driving transition towards animal-free science.
IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member sharing AFSA's goal of accelerating modern, species-relevant approach to safety assessment globally.
Vibrant-M (Merck)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member collaborating with AFSA on advancing animal-free safety science.
bioMérieuxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member and partner in AFSA biologicals workstream. Featured in Brazilian pyrogen testing webinar discussing recombinant methods for bacterial endotoxin testing. Contributed speakers to AFSA events on endotoxin testing transition.
Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder supporting AFSA project 'Accelerate non-animal batch release testing for human vaccines.' Gates Foundation funding enables 3-year project dedicated to accelerating implementation and regulatory acceptance of non-animal approaches for human vaccine batch-release testing with focus on BRICS countries.
IABS (International Alliance for Biological Standardization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization collaborating with AFSA on conferences and workshops. Jointly organized 2019 Bangkok conference and ongoing webinar series on animal testing replacement for vaccines. Organizing committee member for December 2025 Bangkok conference.
DCVMN (Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network collaborating on biologicals programs including MAT training and implementation of non-animal methods for vaccine batch release testing.
HealthforAnimalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal animal health association collaborating with AFSA on veterinary vaccines series. Joint webinar on transitioning to non-animal based veterinary vaccine batch release testing, promoting dialogue toward global regulatory alignment.
IIVS (Institute for In Vitro Sciences)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit member supporting AFSA's mission to advance animal-free safety science.
CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute member supporting AFSA activities.
GPC (Global Pharma Consulting)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting member supporting AFSA collaboration.
Creme GlobalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company member supporting AFSA's mathematical modeling and exposure assessment capabilities.
ProtoQSARsupportingTechnology or IntegrationComputational toxicology company member providing in silico modeling expertise for animal-free safety assessment.
Revivo BiosystemssupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology company member providing organoid-based testing platforms for animal-free safety assessment.
AquatoxsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology company member providing aquatic toxicity testing solutions.
KREATiSsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSolutions company member supporting AFSA with regulatory testing and assessment services.
PathoQuestcoreTechnology or IntegrationBiotechnology partner co-organizing webinar on biopharmaceuticals animal-free viral assessments. Provides Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) biosafety solutions for adventitious agent testing, offering animal-free approach for biologics testing.
DSM-InnospecsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member supporting AFSA's animal-free safety science initiatives.
Dr. Reddy'ssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical company member supporting AFSA biologicals workstream.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Others

HealthforAnimals: Global animal health industry association that collaborates with AFSA on transitioning veterinary vaccine batch-release testing to non-animal methods. Industry-side counterpart for AFSA's biologicals workstream.

Broad incumbents

European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM): EU reference laboratory for alternatives to animal testing that validates NAMs and drives regulatory uptake across EU chemicals, cosmetics, and biologics regulation. Comparable role as validator and regulatory influencer.
OECD: Intergovernmental organization that publishes Test Guidelines (e.g., TG 497) used by regulators worldwide. AFSA's frameworks are explicitly aligned with OECD principles, making it a critical counterpart rather than a competitor.

Emerging players

Revivo Biosystems: Organ-on-chip / microphysiological systems company providing animal-free testing platforms. AFSA member; provides technology enabling AFSA's NAM adoption goals.
bioMérieux: In vitro diagnostics and microbiology company co-developing recombinant alternatives for endotoxin testing. AFSA partner in the biologicals workstream with overlapping interest in animal-free BET.

Direct peers

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: Non-profit that conducts research, policy work, and advocacy to replace animal use in medical research and testing. Comparable educational and regulatory advocacy footprint.
Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT): Academic center focused on advancing alternative methods in toxicology and promoting humane science. Comparable mission of advancing NAMs for regulatory use and convening stakeholders.
PETA International Science Consortium: Science-focused NGO promoting development and regulatory acceptance of non-animal test methods. Directly comparable advocacy/regulatory engagement model across chemicals, cosmetics, and biologics.
Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS): Non-profit laboratory and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing in vitro methods and replacing animal testing in regulatory and product safety applications. AFSA member; shared mission and overlapping chemical/cosmetics workstreams.
Cruelty Free International: Leading NGO campaigning for an end to animal testing in cosmetics and consumer products, including the Leaping Bunny program. Directly comparable mission in cosmetics regulatory reform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration

What does Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration do?

Is Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration a public or private company?

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration founded?

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration based?

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.

Who are Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration's main competitors?

HealthforAnimals is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) and OECD. Emerging players are Revivo Biosystems and bioMérieux. Direct peers are Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), PETA International Science Consortium, Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) and Cruelty Free International.

Does Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration have an API?

No public API is recorded for Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration.

What industry is Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration in?

Animal-Free Safety Assessment Collaboration's product category is Non-animal Safety Assessment Advocacy & Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAJ, Health, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Regulatory Cooperation, with a secondary code of HLAMAKAM, Vaccine R&D, Clinical/Field Trials & Regulatory Affairs. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.