Naason Science Introduces Virtual Control Groups for Preclinical efficacy studies

Naason Science announces that it has completed its first round of cataloguing control group animals from validation studies in various diseases and under differing dosing regimes, vehicles, SHAM procedures and enrichment conditions in the home-cage. using the Actual Analytics™ Home Cage Analyzer® technology. Over the last 6 years, and in the course of executing around 200 in-house in vivo validation studies, Naason Science has compiled an extensive digital library of control group behaviours in the home-cage and in various study paradigms. 

The choice as to whether virtual control groups should be used will come from the prospective client but Naason Science allows this option for clients to utilize in the course of the studies they perform with Naason. The CEO of Naason Science Dr Larry C Park stated, “ this program allows us to utilize historic data from WT animals as well as the littermates of TG animals in order to adequately control studies. We are also able gauge the efficacy of therapeutic technologies by providing an accurate and fixed therapeutic window for compounds being tested.” 

Dr Patrick J Sweeney, Chief Operating Officer for Naason Science and the internal owner of the program added, “when properly matched – the virtual control group serves as a powerful tool with which to address the underlying principles of the 3Rs – Reduce, Replace and Refine. In addition, to reducing animal numbers, replacing the control group with a digital presence now presents a powerful case for refinement. The initiation of this program will further reduce the overall cost to clients while allowing us all to reap the benefits of better overall animal wellness. In many ways this program is another avenue in Naason's search for non evoked responses, reduction of animals in in vivo experiments as well as for digital biomarkers within the course of modelling diseases for drug discovery and disease research.”

Naason’s in vivo teams continue to work toward their ultimate goal of reducing the requirement for control groups in in vivo studies. It should be noted that the data generated from this program allows for a cogent method of quality control and provides insight into the general welfare of animals in the Naason vivarium.

To discuss the Naason Virtual Control Group Program, how it works please contact Naason Science Ltd.