Before any new drug or therapy is brought to market, regulations are in place for test phases to identify any health or safety risks as well as the effectiveness of the new product. The regulations typically require testing in animal models, and when this is required, the research is highly regulated to ensure responsible, humane and ethical treatment.
As a preclinical contract research organization, Scantox has a responsibility to ensure the well-being of all animals in our care. We constantly strive to go beyond regulatory requirements when it comes to animal welfare as we believe it is essential for our business and our core values, as well as ensuring higher quality of science and a better working environment for our staff. This commitment is materialized at all of our sites where we have established local animal welfare bodies but also a global animal welfare committee to share experience and best practices for the benefit of our animals.
In its official communication in relation to the Scantox site in Denmark receiving its accreditation in 2025, the AAALAC International Council on Accreditation noted:
“The Council commends you and the staff for providing and maintaining an excellent programme of laboratory animal care and use.
Especially noteworthy were:
- The impressive Positive Reinforcement Training programme with dedicated trainer
- The big outdoor facilities at Block 10
- The dedicated competent staff and friendly and open atmosphere
- The new professional rehoming initiative
- The multiple daily and clinical observations of all individual animals.
The Scantox staff is dedicated to ensure the best care and welfare of all laboratory animals in our facilities.
Our team of trained and experienced animal technicians and veterinarians conduct professional handling and care of all our research animals to ensure their optimal health and well being. We are dedicated to provide optimal housing, handling and nutrition to our animals.
3R – Replace, Reduce, Refine
The Scantox Animal Welfare Group is constantly working on ways to apply the 3R principles in all studies conducted.
Replace: Living and sentient laboratory animals should be replaced as far as possible with non-sentient alternatives
Reduce: The intended experimental goal should be achieved with as few animals as possible
Refine: The experimental animals used are treated as gently as possible. This refers to the entire life of the animal – breeding, transport, husbandry, testing, and, if necessary, life ending.
Exemplifying the 3Rs in Practice
Replace
Scantox actively explores new technologies that can substitute or minimize the need for in vivo studies. As one recent example, in 2024 we invested in a confocal microscope that enhances our ability to conduct advanced in vitro evaluations. This investment underscores our continuous efforts to identify and integrate state-of-the-art methods that lessen reliance on animal models.
Reduce
In 2024, we successfully rolled out a microsampling technique for blood collection, allowing multiple (<50 microliters) samples to be taken from the same animal. By eliminating the requirement for separate satellite groups used solely for blood sampling, this approach significantly decreases the total number of animals necessary for our studies.
Refine
All Scantox sites emphasize best practices in animal handling, such as tunnel handling for rodents and positive reinforcement training for non-rodents. Positive reinforcement fosters trust and cooperation between animals and staff, using only gentle, reward-based methods. These techniques enhance the welfare of our research animals and contribute to safer, more humane working conditions for our teams.
Together, these commitments form the cornerstone of Scantox’s animal welfare efforts. By embracing the 3Rs, we continue to refine our processes, invest in innovative technologies, and maintain a culture where the well-being of both animals and staff is paramount.
The conduct of studies using experimental animals is in Denmark licensed by The Animal Ethics Council (Rådet for Dyreforsøg) and in Sweden by the Animal Ethics Committee (Djurförsöksetiska Nämnden), and are performed in accordance with the Danish and Swedish Laws on Animal Experimentation (LBK nr. 474 af 15/05/2014 and BEK nr. 2028 af 14/12/2020 and L150, Statens jordbruksverks föreskrifter och allmänna råd om försöksdjur, SJVFS 2019:9), the European Directive (2010/63/EU), as well as internationally accepted principles for the care and use of laboratory animals.
