Experimental monkeys have soared 20 times!Why is it "a monkey" now?

Author:Beijing Science and Technology Time:2022.06.18

The value of the experimental monkey has risen to 160,000 yuan from the previous unit price of thousands of yuan. For a while, the experiment used monkeys to focus on the focus. Which monkeys are experimental monkeys? Why is it "a monkey" now?

Interview expert

Huang Chengming (researcher at the Institute of Animal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Chen Ceshi (Researcher at the Institute of Animal Research of the Institute of Animal, Yunnan Provincial Institute of Animal Models and Human Diseases Mechanics, Director and Researcher of the Institute of Animal Models and Human Diseases)

Recently, the topic of#近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近近 Why the experiments have become the targets for the acquisition of major pharmaceutical companies.

According to the "Announcement of the Bidding for the Crab Monkey Purchasing Project for the Experimental Crab Monkey Purchasing Project" released by the Ministry of Finance's website in March this year, the number of crab monkeys purchased by the China Food and Drug Inspection Research Institute is 3.66 million yuan, the transaction value is 3.66 million yuan. The unit price of each crab monkey is as high as 122,000 yuan. According to media reports, some people in the industry said that the unit price of crab monkeys has exceeded 160,000 yuan, and some people in the industry said that "16 million is already a past, one price a day."

Experimental monkey supply is tight, and its value has soared from 6,567 yuan/only in 2014 to more than 160,000 yuan/piece, an increase of more than 20 times. Despite this, many research institutions are still facing a "valuable monkey" situation. Why do animals need to participate in clinical experiments? Where does the situation of "a monkey be difficult to find" come from?

Each disease requires a suitable "model"

Today, more and more animals have contributed life to scientific research and human healthy development. For example, mice and organ transplants are used for cancer research. Pigs are used for influenza research.

Chen Ceshi said that animals and humans can suffer from various diseases, and some diseases have homology -that animals and humans will suffer, such as tumors. There are also some viruses that spread across species. For example, AIDS was first discovered in chimpanzees, and then transmitted to people. Some viruses are unique to animals. For example, the African swine fever virus popular in China in 2019 is mainly infected with pigs, but it will not be transmitted to people.

▲ It is currently known that HIV-1 originated from SIVCPZ on chimpanzees and HIVGOR on the gorilla, and HIV-2 originated from SIVSMM on black and white eyebrows

The animal disease model has always been considered a bridge from basic to clinical. Since the 1980s, foreign countries have already started to establish a gene knockout animal model for new drug research and development. After that, with the improvement of genetic engineering technology, people can use genetically modified technology, genetic target technology or genetic reorganization technology to further modify, change or interfere with the original DNA genetic composition of the biology, so as animal. Among them, because spiritual long animals are closer to human beings in terms of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, metabolism, nervous system, and drug metabolism, they are often used for human nervous system research and related drug development.

At present, more models of animals are used clinically. Animals include zebrafish, nematodes, fruit flies, mice, rats, macaques, etc. Mouse is the most important model animal in medical research, and the animal models of many diseases are mice models.

In addition, with the deepening of the study of the disease mechanism, some diseases, such as infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease, and nervous system diseases, etc., require large -scale model animals. Therefore, some models with high evolutionary status are increasingly scientific research. Personal favors, such as dogs, pigs, crickets, and non -spiritual monkeys.

Therefore, scientists have been searching for the "best" animal model. What drugs may be effective and how much dose of dose of taking, which requires relying on animal models to draw conclusions. Finding a good animal model can really help people find a suitable way to prevent control.

New drugs must go to the clinical clinical "animal" level

Before all new drugs are approved for clinical research, they must first use the safety evaluation of experimental animals (rodents, dogs, and even monkeys) to eliminate the serious and side effects of the drugs, including carcinogenic, teratogenic, toxic, toxication, cause to cause Mutations, etc., are applied to human beings under security, it can be said that they build a protective wall for human medication safety.

▲ New drug research and development flowchart

In the experiment, scientific researchers will choose organisms similar to humans based on the type of disease as much as possible according to the type of disease. At the same time, the feasibility and economy of practical operations must be considered.

Chen Ceshi said that theoretically, monkeys are the best model to study many human diseases. In 2007, an international scientific research team from more than 170 scientists from 35 institutions, which is composed of more than 170 scientists "macaques genome sequencing and analysis consortia". The sequencing results show that the genetic similarity between the genes and the genes of chimpanzees and humans is about 97.5 %, while and while, while the genetic similarity of chimpanzees and humans is about 97.5 %, and while, the gene is about 97.5 %, and the genetic similarity is about 97.5 %. The genetic similarity between chimpanzees and humans is higher, with 99 % of genes in common in the two. The chimpanzees have been included in the protection of animals due to the scarcity of existing in existence. Macaques are also protecting animals. In my country, they are listed as key animals in national -level II countries.

▲ The genetic similarity between macaques and humans is about 97.5 %, and there are many similarities in genetic and physiological. Therefore, it has always been a common research object in medical research, especially in AIDS and aging research. (Picture from the Internet)

At the same time, internationally, macaques are listed in CITES Appendix II species and have restrictions on trade. However, macaques have the largest distribution range and large number of species in the existing spiritual long animals. Adult female monkeys are generally mature at 4-5 years old, with 1 child a year, and 1 child. Macaques have many similarities in genetic and physiological, so it has always been a common research object in medical research, especially in AIDS and aging research. "In the past, there were fewer macaques. The main reason was that the cost was relatively high." Chen Ceshi said that the starting cost of using a monkey for the starting cost of related animal experiments was about 10,000 yuan. The research cycle of experiments using monkeys is also long, and generally requires observation for several to decades. But now the monkey's gene control technology has made great breakthroughs, which can help humans to better study various diseases.

Which monkeys are experimental monkeys?

"The price of experiments has always been high, and the price cannot be reduced in the short term." A company specializing in the pre -clinical evaluation of drugs for drugs. , Rats, rabbits, dogs, monkeys, etc. Like other experimental animals, when using experimental monkeys, the administration paths include oral, skin, intraeid, subcutaneous, abdominal cavity, muscles, veins, etc. To use a large number of experimental monkeys, sometimes even more than 20 or 30.

As the name suggests, the experimental monkey is a monkey specially used for experiments. Huang Chengming, a researcher at the Institute of Animal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in an interview that in general, there are two main types of monkeys that can be used as experiments: the first category is to survive in the wild. Various wild monkeys, such as focusing on the objects of golden monkeys, white -headed lobe monkeys, black -headed lobe monkeys, etc. The second category is monkeys specializing in projects such as vaccine, drug research and development experiments, and physiological experiments. The special experimental monkeys now are generally macaques.

The macaque is a typical macaque animal. The body is thick, the tail is short, the head is brown, the back is brown gray or brownish yellow, the lower part is orange or orange-red, the abdomen is light gray yellow, and the average body of the adult is about 50-60 cm. It is widely distributed in the vast region of southern China, northern India, and some Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, etc., mainly inhabited in the dense forests or sparse forests of Shishan cliffs, streams and rivers. Like group residences, often more than ten or even hundreds of large groups.

Huang Chengming said that among all monkeys, because of the relatively large number of macaques, strong adaptability, easy to domesticate and reproduce, it is also close to humans. The ideal test animal. The commonly used monkeys in the experiment are mainly Ganges monkeys and crab monkeys. Among them, Ganges monkeys are mainly distributed in my country and India, and crab monkeys are mainly distributed in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries and regions in southeast Asia.

However, under the stimulus of economic interests, the long -term chaos and hunting also caused macaques to danger. In our country, macaques have been included in China's "National Key Protection Wildlife List" national second -level protection animal, "Chinese endangered animal red book · Beast" is easy to danger, and it is also included in the "World Nature Conservation Alliance" in 2008 The low -risk (LC) level in the red list of species. In this context, wild macaques are also prohibited for various clinical experiments. "Almost all experiments are raised artificially now." Huang Chengming said.

The demand for macaques in medical research is very huge, infectious disease research, pharmacology and toxicology research, reproductive physiology research, stomatology research, elderly disease research, organ transplantation and ophthalmology research, endocrine disease and abnormal tire studies, research, and abnormal tire studies, Oncology research is inseparable from them, and the development of human new drugs is extremely cautious in medicine. New drugs must be used for non -spiritual animals, such as small white rats, white rabbits, etc. Animal experiments. Only experiments on animals such as spiritual longes prove that there is no harm, can clinical experiments on people be performed, and the experiments of spiritual long animals are the end of the end. The "National Standards for the Quality of China Experimental Animal Animals" promulgated in 2001 also clearly stipulates that the research and development of all new drugs and the diagnosis of diseases, the establishment and improvement of the treatment methods, etc., must be obtained by the reliable conclusions obtained in the non -human long category before they can in order Entering clinical research. It is also the reason that the relatively easy to obtain macaque has become an important research animal for many scientific research institutions and large pharmaceutical companies.

▲ In May 2020, the "SARS-COV-2 Virus Exit-Virus Virus Expulsive Vaccine" led by Qin Chuan, led by Qin Chuan, led by Qin Chuan, the Institute of Medical Experimental Animal Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was published in "Science" magazine, becoming the world's first The results of the new crown vaccine animal experiment research on public reports. The article announced that the vaccine was safe and effective for the vaccine developed by Beijing Kexingzhong Biological Technology Co., Ltd.. The experiment was conducted on the Ganges monkey.

Due to the rapid reproduction of crab and monkeys, and its weight of 4 kg-5 kg, the Henghe monkey body with an average 7 kg weight is small, which leads to the small amount of medication. Monkey should have been fully shifted to crab and monkeys. The experimental monkeys breeding in China are mainly crab and monkeys, accounting for about 80 % -85 % of the total industrial volume. Since crab monkeys are not Chinese species, seeds need to be introduced from Southeast Asia. Now there is an experimental monkey a monkey, which is also known as the thumb monkey. This is a small non -human long category from the Amazon rainforest in South America. Compared with other non -human long categories, adult ordinary monkeys are insufficient weight. 400 grams, with the advantages of small body shape, mature sexual maturity and short pregnancy, docile personality for laboratory breeding. It also has a strong genetic similarity with humans. The prospects of medical science research are huge. There are not many experiments.

China is the World Experimental Monkey Breeding Center

Located at the depths of the mountains of Anhui Province, the Gate County, Qimu Forest Farm. This huge courtyard is a row of monkey houses with a large number of macaques. This is the center of Anhui Experimental Macaques. The center was established in 1999 and once belonged to the local forest farm. After passing the review and acceptance of the national forestry department in 2005, the macaque here officially started as an experimental monkey. In the past ten years, there have been many medical research units such as the Shanghai Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Anhui Medical University, and the Shandong Binzhou Medical College selected monkeys to experiment from the center. Dozens or even hundreds of macaques are used for experiments every year.

The experimental monkeys are specially used for scientific experiments. The breeding is different from ordinary monkeys. There are many rules in breeding management. For example, each monkey has a file. The birth date of the monkey, the date of weaning, who the parents are, and the illness, treatment and medication will be recorded one by one to provide accurate information for the experiments of scientific researchers in the future. Essence In addition, monkey houses are generally divided into two types: one is a breeding area monkey house, which usually lives with a male monkey and several female monkeys. The breeding group of the experimental monkey can only be raised in a single male population. In other words, the experimental monkeys are all prevailing "monogamy" systems. Generally speaking, the male and female propagation groups of macaques and crab monkeys are 5-6: 1 and 7-8: 1, respectively. The reporter learned that when the number of male monkeys in the breeding base is insufficient, there are often more than a dozen "wives" of a male monkey.

The other is a monkey cage house, with a dozen monkeys in each monkey house. When the monkeys are adulthood, they will be formed their own family breeding offspring. Of course, among these monkeys, if it is not a wild monkey and a child, many of them will embark on the experimental platform of various drugs, and some will even give life for this.

A staff member of the Seibu Forest Farm in Qimen County told reporters that due to the implementation of experimental breeding units such as the Wildlife Rescue Center of the State Forestry Administrative Department in recent years, the system should be decoupled with the activities of domestication and breeding and operating monkeys in the system. Anhui Experimental Maca was sold to private enterprises in 2015. The change of Anhui Experimental Macaque Center is also a portrayal of China's entire experimental monkey breeding. At present, 90%of the Chinese experimental monkey breeding is controlled in the hands of private enterprises. Guangxi is the largest experimental monkey breeding base in China. It has more than ten experimental monkey breeding farms. The amount of deposits has reached more than 100,000. On average, more than 10,000 experimental animals are provided at home and abroad each year, and the amount of breeding and supply ranks first in the country.

After these years of development, China has now become the world's largest experimental monkey breeding country. However, before the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia, China was not controlled by China's exports of experiments, which also led to the sharp tension of domestic experiments after the epidemic.

How much is the current maintenance of Chinese experiments? According to the information disclosed by "Surging News", there are currently only about 30,000 domestic experimental monkeys, and the voice of "valuable monkeys" in the market is getting louder.

As a "strategic resource"

Experimental monkey "one monkey is hard to find"

The world's demand for experiments every year is more than 100,000, and most experimental monkeys are derived from China. Data show that by 2013, the export of experimental monkeys in China has reached about 30,000, and it has a pivotal position in the world experiment monkey market. Guangxi, as the largest experimental monkey stock and export provinces in China, accounts for about 60%of the country's export volume. Of the nearly 35,000 monkeys imported in the United States in 2019, 60%of them came from China.

After the outbreak of the new coronary pneumonia, the exports of Chinese experimental monkeys have changed a lot. On January 26, 2020, the State Administration of Market Supervision of the China State Administration of Market Supervision jointly issued the "Announcement on the Prohibition of Wildlife Transactions", requiring "the implementation of wild animal places in various places, and it is strictly forbidden for wildlife to spread and trafficking." The Chinese experimental monkey import and export business was suspended.

In China, due to the expensive price of experiments, and general institutions do not have the qualifications of experimental monkeys, many basic research does not use experimental monkeys, rats, rats, rabbits and other non -spiritual long animals. Objects, only some institutions involve the research of new drugs. However, major pharmaceutical companies must use experimental monkeys when developing new drugs, and many of them are commissioned by special companies to conduct experiments. Whether these new drug experiments have sufficient sources of experiments have become the key to the company's business. The breeding cycle of experiments is extremely long. Because monkeys usually take about 5 years from birth to sexual maturity, it takes about 5 and a half months from pregnancy to childbirth. This has caused the first batch of second -generation "commercial monkeys" to be at the fastest for 8 years. According to regulations, experimental monkeys can be used for experiments only after the age of 3 years. And usually, monkeys only produce 1 baby per child, and the number of experiments can not increase suddenly. This has led to the current high price of experimental monkeys in China, and in the next few years, it will still be in a state of tense supply of experimental monkeys.

After the overall outbreak of the new crown pneumonia, many domestic R & D units in scientific research and development units have intensified the shortage of monkeys. In addition to the skyrocketing price, "one monkey is difficult to seek" has made some urgent need of scientific research projects significantly affected. Some people in the industry believe that the import, breeding and export management of Chinese experimental monkeys must establish a long -term mechanism, so that China will not fall into passive when encountering a large number of experiments when using a large number of experiments.