The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released QSAR Toolbox Version 4.8, a major upgrade aimed at strengthening chemical hazard assessment and regulatory compliance worldwide.
The update enhances digital toxicology capabilities, supporting programs such as EU REACH and other international chemical safety frameworks.
Key New Features in Version 4.8
QSAR Toolbox 4.8 introduces multiple improvements for predictive toxicology:
• Advanced import and processing for metabolism data
• Enhanced analogue and category-search tools
• Updated profilers and predictive models
• Improved reporting aligned with Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) standards
• Robust workflows for read-across and category-based assessments
• Performance enhancements for faster, more reliable analysis
These upgrades enable transparent, scientifically justified, and efficient hazard assessments.
Supporting Regulatory Compliance & Innovation
QSAR Toolbox 4.8 helps regulatory agencies, chemical manufacturers, and scientific organizations:
• Fill data gaps and predict hazards
• Reduce reliance on animal testing
• Accelerate and lower costs of compliance evaluations
• Produce reliable documentation for regulatory submissions
The release aligns with global efforts to modernize chemical safety using computational toxicology and digital tools.
Industry & Regulatory Implications
Organizations in chemicals, biocides, consumer products, and materials sectors are encouraged to adopt Version 4.8 to:
• Streamline reporting and regulatory submissions
• Shorten evaluation timelines
• Strengthen scientific justification for hazard predictions
Advancing Digital Chemical Safety
With QSAR Toolbox 4.8, OECD continues to advance predictive tools in chemical management, with future updates expected to further integrate automation, data connectivity, and advanced modelling.
Reference: OECD QSAR Toolbox
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