Snapping the Bonds of Animal Testing: A Glance at the Revolution
Continued Use of Animal Testing Remains Prevalent
All our life-saving innovations - from breast cancer medications to coronavirus vaccines - owe their genesis to animal testing. But why does research still rely on little furry creatures? Is it ethically sound, or is it time to say goodbye to these lab mates? Dive into the debate as we dissect the science-animal conundrum on the International Day of the Laboratory Animal, April 24.
Gorging the Tank with Curiosity: Why Animal Testing Persists
"Bio-research grinds on midwifed models, much the same as human medicine," says Stefan Hippenstiel, an eminent Professor of Infectiology and Pneumology at Charité in Berlin. According to him, ethical and practical constraints prevent the examination of certain issues straight up - leaving us to turn to animal models.
Roman Stilling of the "Understanding Animal Experiments" initiative confirms there are alternative methods available, such as computer simulations and 3D cell cultures. However, when it comes to the complexities of the nervous or immune systems, these methods prove to be their Achilles' heel.
Gaby Neumann from the association "Doctors Without Animal Experiments" counters jabbing, "Animal experiments are a remnant of a bygone era." The challenge, she believes, is that young researchers aren't adequately trained in animal-free procedures, making them clingy to antiquated methods.
Mice and Munchkins in the Lab: What are Animals Used For?
The majority of animals are subjected to basic and applied research, quality control, and toxicity testing - as revealed by "Compass Animal Experiments". For instance, the mRNA vaccines against the coronavirus in Europe were rigorously tested on these tiny test subjects.
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Germany saw a consecutive decline in the number of animals used for experimentation in 2023. About 2.13 million vertebrates and cephalopods were involved in such experiments. Mice topped the list with a whopping 1.64 million, followed by the common zebrafish (142,000), rabbits (68,000), poultry (14,000), and pigs (11,000).
Ape for an Ape?
The use of apes is infrequent, although recent times saw 1,479 Javanese macaques, 159 marmosets and tamarins, and 87 rhesus monkeys employed in research. Primarily, apes are used to determine side effects arising from recurrent dosage and potential damage during a developing fetus.
Intriguingly, non-human primates - including chimps, gorillas, bonobos, and orangutans - aren't reared or conserved for animal experiments in the European Union. According to Stilling, this practice has long since ceased elsewhere in the world.
A Vertical Exit?
The EU has set the target of gradually phasing out animal testing with the ultimate goal of replacing it entirely with alternative methods. However, a roadmap to achieve this is yet to be realized. Many researchers and research institutions insist that animal testing should only be abandoned when it's scientifically feasible.
Rabbits First: Out with the Rabbit Pyrogen Tests by July
On July 1st, certain medication tests—the rabbit pyrogen tests—will be entirely replaced by animal-free alternatives. These tests previously relied on rabbits to detect substances that might cause fever in them.
The European Citizens' Initiative, which garnered more than 1.2 million signatures, among other demands, urged for a roadmap to phase out animal testing with specific targets. The EU Commission responded that it has invested more than a billion euros in the development, validation, and implementation of alternatives to animal testing over the past 20 years.
No Medicine Without Animal Testing: A Pillar, or a Crutch?
"Discontinuing animal testing altogether would not mean the end of the need for them," suggests the responsible commission of the German Research Foundation (DFG) in a position paper. If Germany were to unilaterally ban animal testing, researchers would be left helpless - as biomedical research would continue in countries where they could not oversee the treatment of lab animals.
Cage or Kingdom? A Look into Lab Animal Living Conditions
Mice usually dwell in a box that doubles as a home and laboratory, equipped with nesting material and playthings. Rabbits are granted more space, allowing them to bound around.
Researcher Hippenstiel assures, "Researchers have a vested interest in the well-being of the animals they test. After all, poor living conditions affect test results." Hippenstiel is also a spokesperson for Charité 3R, an initiative dedicated to implementing the 3R principle - replacing, reducing, and refining - in research and teaching at Charité.
Banned in Some Situations: Animal Testing in Cosmetics, Detergents, and Weapons
Restrictions on animal testing stretch as far as cosmetics and detergents. "It's about ensuring no animal suffering for luxury," states Stilling. However, animal tests can still be ordered for occupational safety purposes.
In addition, animal testing is still conducted to investigate the hazards associated with weapons and tobacco products. And while animal tests are prohibited in producing and testing tobacco products, some research on its dangers is still carried out.
Post-Test Fate: Destroyed, Rehomed, or Repurposed?
Most animals are exterminated after testing to extract and analyze organs. The bodies are usually cremated. Genetically unaltered mice can be given to zoos and bird parks as food - but this applies to only a fraction of them, given the strict EU rules governing GMOs.
In the unfortunate scenario where a monkey fails to exhibit the necessary genetic modification, it is bred but not utilized. In 2023, this amounted to 1.38 million surplus animals, which were reportedly directly euthanized.
The Radioactive Spotlight: Why Mice dominate Animal Testing
The reason behind mice's ubiquity in research boils down to practicality. Their care is less demanding than that of larger animals, and due to their low cost and ease of handling, they reproduce quickly. Furthermore, scientists have amassed a treasure trove of data and molecular tools from years of mice research. Lastly, genetic manipulation of mice proved successful at an early stage.
Translating the Heartbeat: Can Animal Tests Predict Human Reactions?
Many functions are similar in mice, says Stilling. "A mouse heart isn't human-sized, but under the microscope, it's hard to distinguish a mouse heart cell from a human one." Hippenstiel agrees, but adds, "Nevertheless, humans aren't just oversized mice." They may look the same metabolically, but differences exist, and the mouse model fails to perfectly mimic human conditions.
The New Defenders: Alternatives on the Defensive Front
Due to advancements and growing concern for animal welfare, alternatives to animal testing are gaining significance. Organ chips, cell cultures, and computer-assisted models are under the spotlight. "We make use of alternative techniques with artificial human heart muscle cells," says Hippenstiel. "With this, researchers can test how drugs impact heart muscle cells. But they're useless for anticipating a growing heart valve."
A Silver Lining: The Bright Future of Animal-Friendly Research
The FDA's commitment to phasing out animal testing requirements for certain drugs, specifically monoclonal antibodies, points to a future where human-relevant testing methods take center stage. This shift aims to maximize drug safety, accelerate development, and trim costs.
With time, new approaches like AI-based models, ex vivo human tissues, high-throughput cell-based screening, and stem cell technologies could open new horizons and bring us ever closer to a world free of animal testing.
- Despite advancements in research and development, animal testing continues to play a role in many life-saving innovations, such as coronavirus vaccines, due to the complexity of certain issues that cannot be examined ethically or practically using other methods.
- Animals, particularly mice, are used extensively for basic and applied research, quality control, and toxicity testing, with mice making up the majority of animals used in experiments as revealed by "Compass Animal Experiments."
- In the field of health and wellness, there are ongoing efforts to replace animal testing with alternative methods like computer simulations, 3D cell cultures, and organ chips in response to concerns about animal welfare, science, and ethics.
- In fitness and exercise, scientists make use of artificial human heart muscle cells for testing the effects of drugs on the body, but these methods have limitations for evaluating certain conditions such as a growing heart valve.
- As part of the movement for healthier and more ethical medical-conditions research, the FDA has made commitments to phase out animal testing requirements for certain drugs, like monoclonal antibodies, and explore new human-relevant testing methods like AI-based models, ex vivo human tissues, high-throughput cell-based screening, and stem cell technologies.
