The cost of an in vivo infection model is influenced by several key variables, including the number and strain of animals used, housing requirements, study duration, dosing routes, and the type and frequency of data collected. Each of these factors impacts labor, facility use, consumables, and technical complexity, making thoughtful study design essential for balancing budget considerations with high-quality data generation.
The most important goal when planning an in vivo infection model is to generate clean, useful data to determine the efficacy (or lack thereof) of test treatments. Certainly, another goal is to maximize the amount of information obtained while trying to keep the price within budget. Many factors affect the price of a study; some are obvious, but some aspects may not be so clear.
Mouse Selection and Its Impact on Study Cost
The number of mice used definitely affects study cost, but the strain of mouse also plays a significant role. ICR mice are typically the most economical mouse strain to use and are often the strain of choice for efficacy or PK studies. BALB/c, C57BL/6 and SKH-1 hairless mice are five to ten times the price of ICR mice. The distinct traits or microbiome of these strains make them ideal for use in some infection models, even though they are more expensive to purchase.
Housing Considerations Based on Mouse Sex and Strain
Another factor that can affect study price is the sex of the mouse. Female mice can be group-housed without risk of aggression, whereas male mice may need to be individually housed because they can fight when housed together for long periods. Aggression is largely strain-dependent; male C57BL/6 and ICR mice should always be housed individually, but male BALB/c and SKH-1 hairless mice tend to be more docile in nature and may be group-housed with littermates for short periods of time (although it is necessary to monitor closely for signs of aggression).
For individual housing, the cost of the study goes up accordingly to cover the cost of extra caging, but also to account for the additional labor involved as every manipulation during the study is more time-consuming when mice are individually housed.
Study Duration and Ongoing Per Diem Expenses
The length of the study period will affect the final cost of a study as well. A long study increases the need for consumables such as bedding, food, and water bottles. If a study goes longer than 1 month, cages also need to be replaced with new clean cages. There is also a per diem charge associated with daily monitoring and health checks of mice, whether they are on study or are in the acclimation phase prior to being placed on a study.
Dosing Route as a Cost Driver
The route of dosing will affect the cost of a study as well. Intraperitoneal injection, subcutaneous injection, and oral gavage are simple and quick methods to perform, so those routes are therefore cheaper. Intravenous dosing requires intricate skills and is performed in the surgical suite. The mouse needs to be warmed under a heat lamp for 2-3 minutes prior to intravenous dosing and is properly restrained for dosing. Intranasal administration requires mice to be anesthetized using isoflurane, therefore the price is higher to account for the additional time and anesthetic needed for intranasal administration.
Data Collection Requirements and Pricing Implications
Study data points will also affect study pricing. A study that only monitors survival is substantially cheaper than one that has tissue harvests and for histology or plating for colony forming units (CFU) at study end. Any manipulations during the study phase, such as recording body weights, survival blood collections, urine collections, body temperatures, etc., will increase the study cost accordingly.
Optimizing In Vivo Study Costs Without Compromising Data Quality
While the overall costs to perform an in vivo infection model may seem high, TransPharm strives to provide the best data package in the most economical way possible. We work with clients to minimize study costs while still providing the data points needed to help propel the research to the next level.
If you’re planning an in vivo infection study, contact TransPharm to discuss how we can design a cost-effective model that delivers the data you need.