AMAP by Charles River to work towards developing alternatives to animal testing

The Alternative Methods Advancement Project (AMAP) by Charles River Laboratories (CRL) is an initiative aimed at reducing reliance on animal testing and finding alternatives to the conventional model.

The initiative is built on the principles of reduction, replacement, refinement, and responsibility. The 4R approach will dictate how the company proceeds with developing strategic innovations and efforts needed to replace animal testing. The goal is to come up with alternatives without compromising the safety and efficacy of research products.

The initiative outlines three key steps. Firstly, they plan to incorporate alternatives into the nonclinical contract research organization’s products and services. For this purpose, the company is moving towards expanding its portfolio; the recent launch of Endosafe Trillium is a testament to that. Used as a replacement for blood from horseshoe crabs, this alternative is a bacterial endotoxin test launched at the beginning of this year. CRL has also clearly stated that while developing animal alternatives is a priority, they do not want any developments to compromise patient safety, and any new modalities will only be formally introduced when proven.

The next key step in advancing their goal is to collaborate with and find partnerships with companies that can identify externally-developed technologies and co-develop solutions to increase client offerings for CRL. In the past, software solutions focused on developing alternatives through AI have been successful, including the launch of candidate nominations software called Logica, developed alongside Valo. Previous successful collaborations like those with Deciphex have helped create advancements in digital pathology, and partnerships with PathoQuest were focused on study validation of next-generation sequencing in viral safety assays. In the future, AI efforts will concentrate more on developing virtual training tools and providing support for clinical studies by validating substitutes for animal testing.

Lastly, the company recognizes that without the support of regulatory bodies and government agencies, they will not be able to pioneer industry-wide change. Therefore, they plan to work with policymakers, leaders, and NGOs to build the infrastructure necessary to propel this change. The company explains that without proper advocacy work done through these stakeholders, it will not be possible to gain the trust and confidence necessary to work toward making animal alternatives the new standard in the industry.

Previously, over the last 4 years, the company had made an initial investment of $200 million to achieve these goals. But now, for the next 5 years to follow through with the listed plans, the company has dedicated an additional $300 million to the initiative.

CRL itself has a tumultuous history with animal testing; in fact, it is a major supplier of animal models. According to the Wall Street Journal, at one point, every two animals used in lab research came from the CRO.

This new approach marks a major shift in the company’s trajectory, especially since in the past, it has been accused by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals of violating animal welfare laws. Most recently, it was involved in friction with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the agency’s investigation into Cambodian monkey suppliers that were importing the animals illegally.