Integrating 3Rs approaches in WHO guidelines for the batch release testing of biologicals: Responses from a survey of National Control Laboratories and National Regulatory Authorities

The UK National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) is reviewing World Health Organization (WHO) manuals, guidelines and recommendations for vaccines and biotherapeutics to identify the extent to which animal-based testing methods are described. The aim is to recommend where updates to these documents can lead to an increased and more harmonised adoption of 3Rs principles (i.e. Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal tests) in the quality control and batch release testing requirements for vaccines and biotherapeutics. Improved adoption of 3Rs principles and non-animal testing strategies will help to reduce the delays and costs associated with product release testing. Developing recommendations that are widely applicable by both the manufacturers and national regulatory authorities for vaccines and biological therapeutics globally requires a detailed understanding of how different organisations view the opportunities and barriers to better integration of the 3Rs. To facilitate this, we developed and distributed a survey aimed at individuals who work for national regulatory authorities (NRAs) and/or national control laboratories (NCLs). In this paper, we present the key findings from this survey and how these will help inform the recommendations for wider integration of 3Rs approaches by WHO in their guidance documents applicable to the quality control and batch release testing of vaccines and biotherapeutics.