Charles River Laboratories launched its Virtual Control Groups (VCG) initiative with Sanofi. The companies partnered to reduce animal usage by replacing selected control group animals with selected matched virtual control animals developed using retrospective datasets. The VCG collaboration is a project guided by Charles River’s Alternative Methods Advancement Project (AMAP), an initiative focused on reducing the use of animals in research.
 
“Charles River is uniquely positioned to combine the science of toxicology with the power of machine learning to drive greater use of VCGs for nonclinical research across the industry,” said Shannon Parisotto, Corporate Executive Vice President, Global Discovery & Safety Assessment, Charles River. “We have an unmatched breadth of data, providing a powerful database of study parameters. By leveraging this historical information, we are able to reduce control group animals and provide clients with meaningful study results.”
 
A VCG is a data-driven, digital creation based on historical study data, parameters, and complex statistical methodology. VCGs are an established practice in some clinical trials, however the application to preclinical research is new. Charles River is partnering with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators and leaders from the biopharmaceutical industry to help advance this research. Charles River and Sanofi are collaborating to pilot VCGs in nonclinical toxicology programs and explore their use.
 
“We are proud to work with Charles River on this important initiative,” said Philippe Detilleux, Global Head of Preclinical Safety, Sanofi. “We have an incredible opportunity to advance sustainable science by reducing our reliance on animal models, and VCGs are one way in which we are utilizing technology to make progress in this area.”
 
As more studies are designed using VCGs with industry partners, increased levels of data will support their refinement, making VCGs more suitable replacements for animals in research.