Input 2021.02.25 15:02
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 24th (local time), US scientists have asked the government to ensure a stable supply of monkeys for testing.
The Corona 19 pandemic lasted for more than a year, and even mutant viruses appeared in the UK and South Africa, and pharmaceutical companies are striving to develop vaccines, but the lack of experimental monkeys has caused difficulties.
According to the US Biocal Research Institute, which supplies experimental monkeys to pharmaceutical companies, the cost of one experimental monkey is more than $10,000 (about 11 million won). It soared more than twice as much as last year. Monkeys, which are primates, have more than 90% of their genes and have similar life activities, making them the best test subjects for vaccine development.
Matthew Bailey, president of the American Society for Biomedical Research (NABR), said the reason for the shortage of laboratory monkeys in the United States is that China has stopped exporting. Since last year, China has restricted trade in wild animals, blocking the way to import experimental monkeys.
In 2019, the U.S. imported 33,818 primates, mostly monkeys, of which 60% were imported from China, according to the CDCP.
It is unclear when the monkey shortage problem will be resolved. According to NYT, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in this regard, “Once the international situation improves and import and export conditions are met, China will actively consider resuming import and export.” Meanwhile, there are voices from Chinese scientists claiming that there are not enough laboratory monkeys for use in China.