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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. 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.