Fewer animal tests on the horizon with new screening methods

Across the US, UK, and European Union, regulatory bodies are taking steps to reduce animal testing in biomedical research, driven by advancements in alternative methods.

For centuries, animals have been central to studying disease and testing new medicines. However, recent initiatives, including a five-year road map from the US Food and Drug Administration and similar plans in the UK and EU, aim to increase the use of alternatives like human cell cultures, organs-on-a-chip, and AI modeling.

These new techniques are proving effective. A plastic slide threaded with human liver cells can now identify toxic drug effects more accurately than tests using rats, and lab-grown cells are replacing animal tests for detecting contaminants in medicines. AI models are also speeding up the identification of potential drug targets without animal involvement. Public opinion is also shifting, with declining acceptance of animal testing, particularly among younger generations.

While completely eliminating animal research isn’t the goal, understanding whole-body effects still often requires it, regulators hope to focus animal testing on situations where alternatives are insufficient. The FDA reported that a change to primate toxicity testing saved hundreds of animals, with the potential to save thousands more as methods expand. These changes represent a “perfect storm” of scientific progress, political will, and regulatory action, building on earlier successes like the 2013 EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics.