Animal research is a small but vital part for the discovery and development of new
medicines and has contributed to substantial advancements in the therapy of significant
human diseases like AIDS, diabetes, cancer, malaria, tuberculosis, cardiovascular
diseases and many others causing immense suffering and death. Regulatory authorities
world-wide require that all new medicines and vaccines must be subjected to efficacy
and safety testing in animals and in human clinical studies before they are approved.
Aptuit delivers discovery and development solutions to its clients in order to make
available safe and effective new medicines.
At Aptuit, we are dually committed to the highest standards of preclinical research
and to the ethical care and treatment of animals.
We seek independent accreditation of our animal care and use program and are fully
accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal
Care international (AAALACi).
Our policy of animal care is based on common principles known as the “3Rs” of animal
research:
- Reduction (of the number of animals used)
- Refinement (implementation of the most humane procedures) and
- Replacement (of animals with non-animal alternatives, wherever possible).
All studies are conducted in full compliance with applicable regulations. We actually
exceed regulations in the care and husbandry of our laboratory animals as demonstrated
by recognition for our efforts to provide extensive environmental and social enhancements
in order to allow animals to carry out species specific behaviors. We implement
as much as possible group-housing to allow social interaction between our animals.
We also provide numerous options to assure companionship, comfort, and exercise.
We strive to avoid procedures that cause pain or distress. We regularly employ sedation,
analgesia, and/or anesthesia as appropriate under veterinary control.
All our staff involved in animal research receives specific training on ethical
and legislative aspects related to animal use.
All experimental protocols are ethically reviewed by an internal committee, before
being submitted to the competent authorities for approval. The committee includes
scientists from a wide range of disciplines, veterinarians, animal care staff and
a statistician, and ensures that the use of animals is carefully considered and
justified, that proper account of the 3Rs is taken, and that high standards of accommodation
and care are achieved.
We have consistently received positive feedback from visitors to our animal facilities.