The health and safety of patients is at the center of everything Nucro-Technics does. The work performed at our facility supports both the development of new drug candidates for human and veterinary medicine, as well as the quality testing required before established treatments reach patients. These therapies address some of the most serious conditions facing patients today, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our facility was designated an essential service and contributed to the advancement of treatments used to combat the disease. Across every discipline, every study Nucro-Technics conducts is ultimately performed with a patient’s well-being in mind.
We recognize that the use of animals in research is a topic that matters deeply to people, and we take that responsibility seriously.
All of the studies conducted at our facility are performed for regulatory purposes, as specified and mandated federally by Health Canada, the US FDA, and other national health agencies worldwide. These studies are an essential step in the development of new medicines, ensuring that drugs are safe before they reach patients in clinical trials. The regulatory agencies specify the study designs, including the species and number of animals used. Our facility already conducts a substantial number of studies using alternative methods, including in vitro, computational, and organoid models, wherever these approaches are scientifically valid and accepted by regulators. We have done so for many years. However, these technologies have not yet advanced and been validated to the point of acceptance at any regulatory body where they can fully replace the animal studies required for regulatory approval. This regulatory framework governing this work exists because of historical tragedies, where insufficient safety testing resulted in serious harm or death. Every drug candidate must successfully complete these studies before it can be tested safely in human clinical trials.
Nucro-Technics complies with all federal and provincial legislation governing animal research, including Ontario’s Animals for Research Act, and follows applicable standards of practice and accepted guidance for the care and use of laboratory animals. Our facility is routinely audited by multiple independent organizations specifically for animal welfare compliance, including the CCAC and AAALAC International, which promote the responsible treatment of animals used in science through a rigorous voluntary accreditation program. These bodies conduct in-depth evaluations of our facilities and practices to assess our ongoing compliance. In more than 55 years of operation, no inspection by any regulator, auditor, or client has ever resulted in an animal welfare complaint or concern.
We are committed to the highest standards of animal care, to full compliance with every regulation that applies to our work, and to continuous improvement in our practices.
