Proposed Best Practices for Optimizing Animal Use in Toxicology Studies

This technical report outlines best practices aimed at optimizing the number of animals used in toxicology studies, focusing on the principles of Reduction within the 3Rs framework of animal welfare. The report discusses various methods employed by Altasciences to minimize animal usage while ensuring robust experimental outcomes. Notably, it highlights the use of blood microsampling techniques, which allow for significant reductions in the number of study animals required for both rodent and nonhuman primate studies. For instance, the implementation of volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS®) has demonstrated a reduction of up to 60% in animal populations compared to traditional sampling methods. The report also reviews specific study designs, including those for mice, rats, monkeys, and dogs, detailing the pros and cons of each approach. The findings emphasize the importance of continuous evaluation of study designs and methodologies to align with ethical standards in preclinical research.