CONNECT BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS LTD

Connect Biopharma Holdings Limited is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company whose core research and development activities rely on animal testing. The company’s pipeline of immunology-focused drug candidates, including treatments for atopic dermatitis and inflammatory bowel disease, requires preclinical testing in animal models to assess safety and efficacy prior to human clinical trials. This use of animals is central to its business model of bringing new biologic therapies to market.

A 2016 U.S. government enforcement action provides specific evidence of this reliance. The company was issued a historic $3.5 million fine for animal welfare violations related to its antibody production processes. According to the cited report, the company extracted antibodies from animals, including goats and rabbits, after injecting them with proteins to stimulate an immune response. This fine, one of the largest of its kind at the time, documents a scale of animal use significant enough to warrant major regulatory penalties.

The company’s own regulatory filings acknowledge that compliance with animal welfare regulations is material to its operations, noting that failures could force it to repeat clinical trials and delay drug approvals. This statement confirms that animal testing is not a peripheral activity but an integral, ongoing component of its drug development process.