Photo: Getty Images North America
HARWICH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Harwich Planning Board has approved a permit for a facility that will extract blood from horseshoe crabs.
The board granted the permit to Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. which specializes in preclinical and clinical laboratory, gene therapy, and cell therapy services for the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and biotechnology industries.
The facility will process horseshoe crab blood to test implantable medical devices and injectable drugs—including the COVID-19 vaccine—for harmful endotoxins.
Charles River Laboratories says the process will not harm the crabs, and that the company will work with local fishermen and harvesters to collect the creatures.
The facility will be located at 195 Queen Anne Rd. next to the town's transfer station and would employ around 25 people.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App