Around 3 million tests were carried out on animals in the UK alone in 2005 in the name of medical research – and a new study suggests that most of it was needless suffering.

Researchers studied six separate animal trials, and found that none of the results were replicable in humans.  

In two of these, corticosteroids for head injury helped the problem, according to animal studies, and yet were of no benefit when they were tested on humans, while a heart drug that was extremely effective in animal studies actually made the condition worse in humans.  

The research team, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, also found that many animal studies were poorly prepared, and most ignored even the basic parameters for proper scientific testing.

They also point out the very obvious fact that the biological differences between animals and humans are often so great that any results become meaningless.

Meanwhile, groups such as FRAME (Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments) continue their good efforts to convince scientists to use organs, tissues, cells grown in culture and even mathematical modelling instead.  Even most drug companies agree that animal tests are useless, but form a necessary part of the licensing process.

Solution?  Change the requirements for a drug licence.

(Source:  British Medical Journal, 2007; 334: 197-200).


E-news broadcast 1 February 2007 No.330 [Subscribe]