Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 22nd June 2016
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Project to reduce use of animals in vaccine production
Lab mouse
The project could significantly reduce the use of animals in routine vaccine production.
VAC2VAC takes One Health approach to replacing traditional testing methods 

A project which could significantly reduce the use of animals in routine vaccine production will unite some of Europe’s largest pharmaceutical companies.

Funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI2), the VAC2VAC project aims to provide data to support the ‘Consistency Approach’ for quality control of vaccines.  Currently, quality control for final products relies on in vivo methods.

A host of organisations from veterinary and human vaccine industry are collaborating in the project, including Zoetis, GlaxoSmithKlein (GSK) and Merial.

To achieve their goal, the organisations will develop, optimise and evaluate physicochemical and immunochemical methods, cell-based and other assays for routine batch quality, safety and efficacy testing of vaccines. This will be done in collaboration and consultation with regulatory agencies.

Noting the importance of this project, Denis Lambrigts from GSK said: “The VAC2VAC project provides a unique platform to support the transition away from in vivo batch release testing for vaccines.

“It brings together both the human and veterinary pharmaceutical industry along with academia and regulators, to build a platform for the development, validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative approaches.

“For industry this is a very positive One Health approach to the challenge of replacement of the long established in vivo test methods and all companies involved are committed to the success off this project.”

Prof. Conrad Hendriksen from Intravacc, one of the key promoters of the project, added: “VAC2VAC takes into account both vaccine safety and animal welfare.

“It will allow us to move away from the traditional paradigm of vaccine batch release testing and to accelerate the introduction of a new paradigm based on innovative non-animal techniques”.

The project is expected to end in 2021 at a total cost of €15.98 million. 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.