{"id":953242,"date":"2026-04-21T08:04:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T12:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/charles-river-highlights-effectiveness-of-vcgs-in-toxicology\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T08:04:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T12:04:32","slug":"charles-river-highlights-effectiveness-of-vcgs-in-toxicology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/charles-river-highlights-effectiveness-of-vcgs-in-toxicology\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles River Highlights Effectiveness of VCGs in Toxicology"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Charles River Highlights Effectiveness of VCGs in Toxicology<\/b><\/p>\n

Peer-reviewed evidence supports the use of Virtual Control Groups in nonclinical toxicology studies<\/i><\/p>\n

WILMINGTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE<\/a>)–
\nCharles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) has shared the results of a retrospective analysis in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology<\/a>, showing that virtual control groups (VCGs) can preserve scientific integrity while reducing reliance on animal models. The review, which looked at 20 toxicology studies that replaced concurrent control groups (CCGs) with curated VCGs, and compared the outcomes across study-level decisions and detailed endpoints. There was 100 percent concordance in the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) across all studies, and although there was some minor endpoint-level variability between the CCG and VCG, the core study conclusions remained unchanged. Continued research with clients has been ongoing to enhance and refine models to address these variabilities. Charles River\u2019s VCG program is guided by the Alternative Methods Advancement Project\u2122 (AMAP), an initiative focused on reducing the use of animals in research where scientifically appropriate.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cVirtual Control Groups show that scientific rigor and meaningful reductions in animal use are not mutually exclusive,\u201d said Dr. Namandj\u00e9 N. Bumpus, Chief Science and Innovation Officer, Charles River. \u201cBy combining decades of curated historical data with advanced analytics, VCGs allow us to reduce animal use while preserving the highest commitment to scientific validity. This work demonstrates what\u2019s possible when innovation, ethics, and industry collaboration move forward together, and it opens the door to a more predictive and efficient future for safety assessment and reduced reliance on animal use in research.\u201d<\/p>\n

Impact of VCGs
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<\/b>VCGs<\/a> apply historical control data, advanced statistics, and AI-enabled analytics to digitally replace a portion of concurrent control animals in regulated safety studies. By reducing animal use and improving data interpretability, VCGs offer a modern, ethical, and scientifically robust alternative for developers seeking more efficient decision-making.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOur focus has been on translating VCGs from concept to execution,\u201d added Laura Lotfi, Director of Digital Products at Charles River. \u201cWorking side by side with our clients, pathologists, toxicologists, and regulators, we are demonstrating how these data-driven approaches can enhance study efficiency, strengthen interpretation, and deliver regulatory-ready results in real programs today. VCGs are no longer a question of feasibility, but of defining when and how they can be optimally implemented.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nVirtual Control Groups help accelerate timelines, enhance data quality, and meet evolving regulatory expectations for the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement).<\/p>\n