Monitoring external contractors
Lars Friis Mikkelsen is a member of the team responsible for monitoring the external contractors performing research studies on living animals on behalf of Novo Nordisk.
Why does Novo Nordisk have animal studies performed by external contractors?
We are using external contractors, contract research organisations and research collaborators, like universities and other scientific research partners, for external animal studies. They can, in a very experienced and professional way, perform animal studies which we do not have the capacity or expertise to carry out at Novo Nordisk.
How does Novo Nordisk ensure high standard of animal welfare at external contractors?
We visit every external contractor before any animal studies can be initiated and do follow-up visits; we perform an animal welfare monitoring and they must live up to our standards to be approved for our use. We discuss animal welfare issues and see how the animals are housed and cared for which give us a good impression of the actual animal welfare standard.
Furthermore, it enables us to make sure that all animals used by us are housed according to our expectation and standards. We also discuss the education and training of the employees working with the animals. This ensures that the personnel working with the animals have the needed experience.
Which criteria does Novo Nordisk have for animal studies performed by external contractors?
In order for Novo Nordisk to accept an external contractor, all the animals used by us must be housed and cared for according to the latest guidelines from the Council of Europe's Appendix A of ETS No. 123, approved in 2006. These guidelines take the natural behaviour and needs of the animal species into account and are the latest and most comprehensive international guidelines which have already been implemented in the revised and very strict Danish legislation (2003 and 2007).
To what extent is Novo Nordisk willing to cooperate with external contractors who do not meet Novo Nordisk’s criteria?
In general we do not accept any animal studies to be performed at non-approved external contractors, meaning that we only use external contractors fulfilling our standards. If the changes required are minor we work with the external contractors in order to help them bring their levels up to meet our expectations.
Which developments have you experienced at external contractors regarding animal welfare?
I have been visiting animal facilities worldwide over the past five years and I have witnessed major changes. In general, I see much higher animal welfare standards, more and more animals are now housed in accordance to the specific needs of their species; being socially housed in bigger cages, housed under environmentally enriched conditions and socialised and trained for future experimental procedures. I think that the improved conditions mainly reflect an increased focus and interest among scientists and staff and a general trend within the society. When we perform follow-up visits, I am proud to hear and see that conditions at some places have been fundamentally improved inspired by our previous dialogue and suggestions for better animal welfare.
