Novo Nordisk Partners to Advance Alternatives to Animal Research

June 4, 2013 /3BL Media/ – Today, the Danish Ministry of Food and Agriculture establishes a new 3R[1] Centre to explore alternatives to animal research and improve the conditions for research animals. Novo Nordisk joins the Ministry in bringing together the pharmaceutical industry, animal welfare groups and the public sector, all of which have a common interest in replacing, reducing and refining the use of animals in research.

“Novo Nordisk has for many years been committed to actively implementing the 3R principles and ensuring the welfare of animals used in research and development. The establishment of the new 3R Centre is an important step for us to continue this work in collaboration with key stakeholders,” says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer, Novo Nordisk.

The 3R Centre’s work will focus on collecting and disseminating knowledge on 3R alternatives to animals, supporting research on the development of alternatives to animals and collaborating with similar centres around the world. The 3R Centre will be governed by a board of seven experts within animal research.

The Centre is funded by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture with contributions from Novo Nordisk, LeoPharma and Lundbeck as well as the Danish NGOs, Dyrenes Beskyttelse (The Danish Animal Welfare Society), Forsøgsdyrenes Værn (an NGO focusing on alternatives to and protection of research animals) and Alternativfondet (a foundation supporting publicizing and promoting the development and use of alternative methods in order to reduce or eliminate the use of animals). Novo Nordisk will contribute 300,000 DKK annually for three years starting in 2014.

Since 2009, Novo Nordisk has been giving an internal 3R Award, to honour employees who improve the conditions for animals used in research and to emphasize the importance of a constant focus on animal welfare. The award is given to employees who bring Novo Nordisk's commitment to the 'Reduction, Refinement or Replacement' (3R) principles into action.

Read more about Novo Nordisk’s stand on animal research

About Novo Nordisk

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk strives to conduct its activities in a financially, environmentally and socially responsible way. The strategic commitment to corporate sustainability has brought the company onto centre stage as a leading player in today’s business environment, recognised for its integrated reporting, stakeholder engagement and consistently high sustainability performance. In 2013, Novo Nordisk received the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology industry group top ranking on Corporate Knight’s list of Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. For more information, visit novonordisk.com/sustainability.

[1] 3R refers to Replacement (use of alternatives methods), Reduction (methods which reduce the number of animals used) and Refinement (methods which improve animal welfare).