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Frankfurt / Mainz (dpa) - According to a scientific initiative, the long-awaited corona vaccine would not be possible without animal testing.
The approval of the first clinical tests on humans "was preceded by animal experiments on mice and rats," reported the initiative "Understanding Animal Experiments".
In a later phase, animal experiments were carried out with rhesus monkeys.
According to its own statements, the initiative aims to provide “comprehensive, up-to-date and fact-based” information on animal experiments in publicly funded research.
The authors want to provide insights into “the necessity of responsible animal experiments” and thus “contribute to an objective discussion about animal experiments”.
In the development of vaccines, animal experiments would examine the ability to induce an immune response, the dosage and vaccination schedule, and possible side effects.
This was also the case with the vaccine candidate BNT162b2 from the Mainz company Biontech, writes the initiative, citing documents from the Paul Ehrlich Institute, the German approval authority for vaccines based in Langen in southern Hesse.
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According to the initiative, the first tests were carried out on mice and rats.
In a later phase, rhesus monkeys were used as an animal model for Covid 19 disease, as can be read in a PrePrint publication.
"After the administration of the experimental vaccine BNT162b2, the animals were infected with the virus - but they were protected, an infection could not be detected."
"Understanding animal experiments" on corona vaccine
Documentation Paul Ehrlich Institute
PrePrint paper