Antibodies are proteins with high specificity for their unique target and have been used as crucial tools for research, diagnostics, therapeutics and regulatory procedures. They are traditionally developed using large numbers of animals and their utility is the subject of debate due to issues of specificity and reproducibility. However, in the last two decades, technologies have become available that avoid the use of animal-derived products. These include the use of recombinant DNA technologies to generate animal-free antibodies and affinity reagents such as affimers and aptamers.
These technologies use defined nucleic or amino acid sequences of the antibody or affinity binder and offer significant advantages over traditional animal-derived antibodies. These include unlimited supply with limited batch-to-batch variation, greater sensitivity and specificity and shorter production times. These technologies can also be applied to a wider range of targets and bench applications not always possible with traditionally derived antibodies.
Despite the advantages offered by non-animal derived antibodies (NADAs) and affinity reagents, their use by the research community is limited. We are establishing a programme of work to understand the reasons behind this and to develop a strategy to support their more widespread use.
Stakeholder workshops
In 2023 we held a workshop to bring together a broad range of stakeholders from across the biosciences sector to share their perspectives on the challenges which contribute to the poor adoption of NADAs and affinity reagents. The objective of the workshop was to develop a consensus strategy to accelerate the uptake of NADAs and to recognise their scientific, economic and animal welfare benefits.
The meeting report summarises the scientific and 3Rs benefits NADAs offer and includes a series of recommendations that will facilitate their more widespread adoption. We also describe the specific steps we will take to support this ambition.
One of the actions highlighted in the 2023 workshop report was to collaborate with the Only Good Antibodies consortium to validate both animal-derived antibodies and NADAs in order to generate the evidence base necessary for wider adoption of the most reproducible reagents. In February 2024, to move these aspirations forward, we hosted a joint workshop focused on improving the integrity and reproducibility of research involving antibodies and other affinity reagents. A meeting report will follow.
