Modernize Testing
We are working to end the FDA’s animal testing with the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 to eliminate the requirement that all new drugs go through extensive rounds of animal testing. Animal testing is outmoded because, unlike human biology-based test methods, animals are unreliable predictors of human response, delaying treatments and cures to patients and driving up drug costs. Revising FDA testing mandates will spare animals and save human lives.
The Issue
The Federal Food Drug and Cosmetics Act requires animal testing for safety and efficacy in drug development for human drugs, to the exclusion of human-biology based non-animal test methods. As a result, the pharmaceutical industry uses millions of animals a year, including primates and dogs – one of the biggest categories of testing involving animals.
The Center's microsite has a wealth of information on animal testing
Leaders
Harvard’s Wyss Institute announced the development of a human “body-on-a-chip” platform that enables in-vitro prediction of drug behaviors in humans.
Emulate leverages human biology + technology to ignite a new era in human health.
BICO is replacing outdated methods for drug discovery to end animal testing once and for all.
Quris’ AI Cinical Prediction Platform better predicts which drug candidates will safely work in humans, avoiding tremendous costs of failed clinical trials.
AxoSim empowers advancements in human neuroscience and accelerates the drug development process through their human-relevant drug discovery platform
The Business Case
The Food and Drug Administration must lift its requirement that drugs be tested on animals prior to approval. Private and public laboratories adept at using non-animal alternative methods that are reliable, time-saving and cost-efficient will have a distinct advantage in the marketplace.
Recent Victory - FDA Modernization Act Passes U.S. Senate!
The U.S. Senate passed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, S.5002, without dissent, taking a major step toward enacting a policy that could dramatically reduce testing on dogs, primates, and other animals in the years ahead. The bill, introduced by Senators Rand Paul, R-Ky. and Cory Booker, D-N.J., with 10 other cosponsors, will eliminate a federal mandate for animal testing for new drugs. Watch Senator Paul’s speech below.
