ATLA::Alternatives to Laboratory Animals

Volume 26, 523-540; July / August 1998

A Call for a European Prohibition of Monoclonal Antibody Production by the Ascites Procedure in Laboratory Animals

Coenraad F.M. Hendriksen

National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bithoven, The Netherlands

SUMMARY

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are particularly valuable in therapeutics and research. Unfortunately, one of the most familiar methods of producing mAbs, the ascites induction method, causes pain and distress to the animals used. In most cases, non-animal or in vitro alternatives can be employed to reduce or eliminate the use of animals for mAb production. Prohibition of the use of animals in the production of mAbs is recommended, except when the replacement in vitro methods prove to be insufficient, and in a limited number of other welldocumented cases, such as an exceptional need for an emergency therapeutic application. A total ban on the use of animals for mAb production is impractical and it is imperative that an appeals process should accompany the prohibition. The need for the establishment of core facilities for in vitro mAb production is emphasised.

Keywords: ascites method, in vitro production, in vivo production, monoclonal antibodies, replacement alternatives