Earlier this week, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. revealed its Alternative Methods Advancement Project (AMAP), which it said is a strong initiative aimed at changing drug discovery and development by exploring alternatives to animal testing.
Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has unveiled its Alternative Methods Advancement Project (AMAP), a strong initiative aimed at changing drug discovery and development by exploring alternatives to animal testing.
In Vivo Research Services has developed a 3D visualization technology that provides direct imaging data in real-time, aiming to reduce drug development time and costs.
Charles River Laboratories has launched a triple-immunodeficient mouse model – a humanized mouse model, the likes of which are “the future of oncology research,” says CRO.
Testing laws introduced after Nazi attrocities in the 40s combined with the paucity of validated in vitro toxicity assays mean animal models are still essential for preclinical research say experts.
Replacing animal studies in drug development is impossible according to the European Commission, which has rejected a petition calling for a ban signed by 1.2m people.
British MPs have signed an anti-animal cruelty pledge which scientists warn would “cripple” disease research and outlaw 89% of preclinical animal research.
Testing the toxicity of drug candidates in animals is archaic and unreliable according to PETA, which joined preclinical CROs at SOT to put forward alternatives.
Huntingdon Life Sciences has announced it will change its name this year, but has not disclosed what its new moniker will be. So Outsourcing-pharma.com would welcome readers’ suggestions.
Contract research organisations Covance, Harlan, Sequani, Charles River Laboratories and Huntingdon Life Sciences have signed an agreement to be open about their animal research.
Huntingdon Life Sciences has acquired contract research and animal models firm Harlan Laboratories, making it the third largest preclinical research organisation, according to the company.
Fewer animals were used to test the safety of life saving drugs in Europe in 2011 than in previous years according to the sixth edition of a research report by the European Commission last week.
New UK proposals to label all drugs as “produced as a result of research on animals” have met with muted response from pharmaceutical industry group, the ABPI.
Two major ferry companies have decided to stop shipping animals used in preclinical drug development to the UK, prompting concerns about the future of the country’s research sector.
Cyprotex says bigger preclinical CROs are stuck in toxicity testing ‘time warp’, citing drug industry demand for innovative cellular methods as key to its second half performance.
Caliper Life Sciences has begun toxicity testing on the final 350 compounds covered by the US Environmental protection Agency’s (EPA) ToxCast screening programme.
A spectrum of systems could eventually replace animal testing and provide a more ethical and economical route through preclinical, according to Kate Darley, business development manager at Kirkstall.
The threat posed by animal rights activists has been highlighted by an alleged arson attack on the Novartis’ CEO’s lodge, with one group saying their only regret is that he was not home when it burned.
Life Sciences Research’s (LSR) operating income fell by 60 per cent to $4m (€2.8m) in Q2 but believes that the contract research market will improve later this year or in 2010.
A team of US scientists have used typically discarded body parts to
create a 'joint in a test tube', which can be used to test
arthritis drugs instead of using animals.
The UK government has been ordered to review the assessment system
it uses to classify and grant permission for animal experiments
following a court ruling handed down last week.
Danish firm Novozymes has been honoured by animal rights
organisation PETA for its efforts to provide animal-free
bioprocessing methods aimed at cutting animal testing during drug
development.
Covance is again at the centre of controversy as opponents of the contract research organisation (CRO) filed a lawsuit against a city in Arizona, aimed at stopping the firm from building a new drug-testing facility there.
The UK has upheld its promise to crack down on its problem of
animal rights extremism, arresting 30 people in dawn raids across
the country yesterday as part of 'Operation Achilles'.
Charles River Laboratories confirmed it is persevering in its
intention to focus on its preclinical and Phase I businesses while
abandoning its late stage development services, during a conference
earlier this month.
Animal welfare group, PETA has reportedly targeted Pfizer, accusing
them of also trying to avoid US animal welfare laws by exporting
its animal testing to countries with no or poor animal welfare
standards.
The US government to pass new measures that make prosecuting
animal-rights activists who target enterprises much easier. The
move has lead critics to warn that peaceful demonstrators would be
labelled as terrorists.
A group of researchers have come together to form a coalition,
which aims to campaign for the revision directives on the
protection of animals used for scientific research.
Covance, the world's largest provider of drug-development services,
is bracing itself for the onslaught of protests by animal rights
activists who are demonstrating against the building of a $100m
(€78.6) laboratory in the US.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has made the unprecedented step of
pledging his personal support for animal testing, provoking an
angry reaction from anti-vivisectionists.
Animal rights activists have continued their campaign of
intimidation after it was revealed the GlaxoSmithkline (GSK)
shareholders were sent letters demanding they sell any shares held
within the company.
A pioneering website has been set up that enables members of the UK
public to express their support for medical research that uses
animals as subjects.
Oxford University has been given the go-ahead to resume building
work on its new animal research laboratory complex, which had
previously been the subject of protest from animal rights activists
last summer.
An affirmation that aims to replace the use of laboratory animals
in testing was agreed in Brussels by key industry sectors
representing the European chemical, pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries.
A two-year study has recommended a greater focus in looking for
other methods of conducting medical research, as the continued use
of animals in experiments is both unrealistic and ethically
controversial.
Pharmaceutical industry groups today welcomed new government
legislation, which ensures animal extremists who are found guilty
of 'economic damage' to research laboratories will face
imprisonment of five years.
Figures released by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry (ABPI) has revealed that the level of intimidation posed
by animal extremists reaches as far as the suppliers who do
business with companies involved with...
New laws to stop increasingly violent animal extremists from
harassing scientists involved in medical experiments have received
the seal of approval by the Association of the British
Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).
In a defiant gesture to animal activists, Britain's pharmaceutical
companies have joined forces to launch a £4m research fund to
finance animal experiments in universities.
The reality of the violence of some UK animal activists became
apparent after GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Europes's biggest drug maker,
warned that investment and jobs would be driven out of the country
by their actions.
The use of animal testing in pharmaceutical research and
development is to be revised after the UK government announced it
was to establish a national centre to reduce use and raise
standards of animal welfare, writes Wai Lang Chu.
The use of animal testing in pharmaceutical research and
development is to be revised after the UK government announced it
was to establish a national centre to reduce use and raise
standards of animal welfare.
