Intellectual Property
Human-Relevant Patents & Licensing Opportunities
Lebrun Labs holds five issued U.S. patents covering human-relevant, nonanimal safety testing methods, validated to outperform animal models in accuracy. Our technology is grounded in human biochemistry, not animal surrogates, and accepted under OECD regulatory frameworks. We actively seek licensing partners to expand these innovations across new markets, endpoints, and applications.
Emergency Eye Wash
Overview
Covers a novel emergency eye wash method using a low-concentration (5–17 mM) freshly prepared ascorbate solution at pH 6–6.99, applied in high volume (100–1,000 mL) within 10 minutes of chemical exposure for 1–15 minutes or more. The method significantly reduces eye damage following accidental or malicious chemical splash or spray. Provides products, devices, and methods for immediate post-exposure ocular decontamination, a significant advance over standard emergency eye wash protocols.
Applications
- Emergency eye wash stations and first-aid kits for chemical exposure environments
- Industrial and laboratory safety products for chemical splash response
- Military and law enforcement applications for chemical agent exposure
- Consumer eye wash products for household chemical accidents
- Licensing to eye wash product manufacturers and safety equipment suppliers
Licensing
Available for licensing to manufacturers of emergency eye wash products, safety equipment suppliers, and industrial hygiene companies seeking a clinically superior alternative to standard saline eye wash.
View commercialization planNIH Grant Funding
Antioxidant Eye Wash Formulations to Counter Ocular Chemical Threats
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R21EY033713. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
In Chemico Test for Toxicity
Overview
Covers the in chemico testing platform that measures reduction in enzyme activity as a predictor of in vivo toxicity, enabling rapid, cell-free assessment of skin corrosion, skin irritation, eye corrosion, eye irritation, lung toxicity, and other toxicity endpoints. This patent underpins the DermaSafe SCT™ and extends the in chemico approach to a broad range of toxicity applications including acute neurotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and cardiac toxicity.
Applications
- Skin corrosion and skin irritation testing (DermaSafe SCT™)
- Eye corrosion and eye irritation testing
- Acute neurotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and cardiac toxicity screening
- Licensing to develop new in chemico tests for additional toxicity endpoints
- Regulatory submissions under OECD and GHS frameworks
Licensing
Actively seeking licensees to apply the in chemico enzyme-activity platform to new toxicity endpoints including neurotoxicity, pulmonary, hepatic, and cardiac toxicity.
NIH Grant Funding
An In Chemico Test to Identify Dermal Corrosives
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44ES036065. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Formulations and Methods Related to Eye Irritation
Overview
Covers in vitro methods and antioxidant formulations for predicting ocular irritancy with a substantially reduced false-positive rate. The invention discovered that adding tear-mimicking antioxidants, including ascorbic acid (0.27–60 mM), serum albumin, and dextran in buffered saline, to nonanimal ocular irritation test systems (biochemical, RhCE, and excised-eye) specifically neutralizes reactive oxygen species and crosslinker chemistries that cause false positives, without reducing sensitivity. False-positive rate improved from ~40% to ~20% while the false-negative rate remained at 0%. Also discloses a high-concentration (17 mM ascorbic acid) formulation for post-exposure ocular protection against chemical injury in vivo.
Applications
- Improving accuracy of any nonanimal eye irritation test (OptiSafe™, EpiOcular, BCOP, ICE, STE, HET-CAM, DoI)
- Reducing false-positive rates in biochemical, cell-based, and excised-eye test systems
- Antioxidant eye drop / eye flush formulation for post-chemical-exposure first aid
- Cosmetic and personal care product formulation to reduce ocular irritation from preservatives and reactive ingredients
- Licensing to test kit manufacturers seeking improved GHS NC classification accuracy
Licensing
Available for licensing to apply patented tear antioxidant chemistry to existing nonanimal test platforms, eye care products, or emergency eye wash formulations seeking a clinically superior, human-biology-based approach.
NIH Grant Funding
IVD EIT (Eye Irritation Test): A Nonanimal Kit and Service for the Detection of Ocular Irritants, Phase II
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44ES031881. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Related Formulations and Methods Related to Eye Irritation
Overview
A breakthrough discovery that adding tear-mimicking antioxidants to in vitro ocular irritation tests dramatically reduces false-positive rates, from ~40% down to ~20%, without increasing false negatives. The patented antioxidant formulation (ascorbic acid, serum albumin, dextran in buffered saline) models the protective antioxidant capacity of human tears, a variable overlooked by all prior nonanimal test methods for 25+ years. Also discloses a high-concentration formulation for post-exposure ocular protection against chemical injury.
Applications
- Improving accuracy of any nonanimal eye irritation test (OptiSafe, EpiOcular, BCOP, ICE, STE, HET-CAM)
- Reducing false-positive rates in biochemical, cell-based, and excised eye test systems
- Antioxidant eye drop / eye flush formulation for post-chemical-exposure first aid
- Cosmetic and personal care product formulation to reduce ocular irritation
- Licensing to test kit manufacturers seeking improved GHS NC classification accuracy
Licensing
Available for licensing to apply patented tear antioxidant chemistry to existing nonanimal test platforms, eye care products, or emergency eye wash formulations.
NIH Grant Funding
IVD EIT: A Nonanimal Kit and Service for the Detection of Ocular Irritants, Phase II
A Nonanimal Test Method to Determine the Ocular Safety of Consumer Products and Chemicals: Commercialization
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44ES031881. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Biochemistry Based Ocular Toxicity Assay
Overview
The foundational patent behind the OptiSafe™ test system. Discloses novel in vitro methods for predicting the relative irritancy of test substances using dual water-soluble and water-insoluble sub-assays, the first such method to control for pH buffering effects and combine both assay types. Independently validated by NICEATM (National Toxicology Program).
Applications
- Ocular irritation testing for chemicals, cosmetics, and personal care products
- GHS and EPA classification of eye irritants and corrosives
- High-throughput screening for regulatory safety data sheets
- Replacement of Draize rabbit eye test
Licensing
Available for licensing to apply the OptiSafe™ methodology to new test systems, product categories, or geographic markets.
NIH Grant Funding
Non-Animal Test Method to Determine the Ocular Safety of Consumer Products and Chemicals
Non-Animal Test Method to Determine the Ocular Safety of Consumer Products and Chemicals, Phase II
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44ES025501. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Interested in licensing one or more of our patented technologies?
Inquire About LicensingReferences
Accuracy figures, validation data, and false-positive rates cited in the patent summaries above are sourced from the following Lebrun Labs publications, patents, and independent validation reports.
- 1. [LL] Lebrun S. (2018). U.S. Patent No. US10041922B2: Biochemistry Based Ocular Toxicity Assay (OptiSafe™). USPTO. Granted August 7, 2018. Source of 92% EPA / 88% GHS accuracy figures (independently validated by NICEATM). https://patents.google.com/patent/US10041922B2/en
- 2. NICEATM / NTP. (2020). Validation Study Report: OptiSafe™ Ocular Irritation Test. National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/niceatm/test-method-evaluations/ocular-irritation
- 3. [LL] Lebrun S, Chan R, Chavez S. (2024c). U.S. Patent No. US12115147B2: Formulations and Methods Related to Eye Irritation. USPTO. Granted October 15, 2024. Source of false-positive rate reduction data (~40% → ~20%). https://patents.google.com/patent/US12115147B2/en
- 4. [LL] Lebrun S, Chan R, Chavez S. (2026c). U.S. Patent No. US12521367B2: Related Formulations and Methods Related to Eye Irritation. USPTO. Granted January 13, 2026. https://patents.google.com/patent/US12521367B2/en
- 5. [LL] Lebrun S, Nguyen L, Ho C. (2024). Evaluation of a new in chemico skin corrosion test. Toxicology in Vitro 101:105940. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2024.105940
- 6. [LL] Lebrun S, Nguyen L. (2026a). U.S. Patent No. US12559784B2: In Chemico Test for Toxicity. USPTO. Granted February 24, 2026. https://patents.google.com/patent/US12559784B2/en
- 7. [LL] Lebrun S, Nguyen L. (2026b). U.S. Patent No. US12648892B2: Emergency Eye Wash. USPTO. Granted June 9, 2026. https://patents.google.com/patent/US12648892B2/en
[LL] = Lebrun Labs LLC patent or publication. NIH grant support for each patent is acknowledged in the respective patent specification and NIH Reporter records linked above.