Complying with ARRIVE 2.0: Reporting essentials for animal models of envenoming therapeutic efficacy testing.

Abstract

Preclinical murine models remain the primary method for assessing the efficacy of antivenoms, yet the quality and transparency of reporting in these studies is often varied and inconsistent. This undermines reproducibility, limits the potential for refinement, and hinders the translation of findings into clinical benefit. To address this, we present a reporting guide tailored specifically to in vivo venom neutralisation experiments. This reporting guide aligns with the ARRIVE 2.0 Essential 10 and incorporate recent World Health Organization recommendations, offering a practical framework to support rigorous and transparent reporting. The guidance is structured into two tiers: an "essential" set that outlines the minimum information required for robust methodological scrutiny, and a "recommended" set designed to promote refinement and reduction in animal use. Together, these checklists aim to support researchers, reviewers, and editors in improving the quality and reproducibility of pre-clinical venom research, without requiring additional experimental work. While developed with lethality neutralisation assays in mind, the guidelines are adaptable to other common in vivo models and experimental designs. By encouraging more complete reporting, they facilitate cross-study comparisons, support meta-analyses, and help build confidence in both existing and novel envenoming therapies. Ultimately, this approach promotes better science, more ethical animal use, and improved prospects for clinical translation.