Animal Testing

A new EU public-private initiative is developing tools to help clarify when mini- and micropig models can be used as viable alternatives to non-human primates in non-clinical drug safety testing.

This is the second of a two-part profile of Hans Clevers, head of Pharma Research and Early Development at Roche, in which he talks about his vision for the future of personalized medicine.

General chapters on pyrogens, histamine and depressor substances – involving tests on rabbits, guinea pigs and cats – are being removed from the Ph. Eur, marking another step in the European Pharmacopoeia Commission’s ongoing efforts to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals for monograph requirements.

This is Part 1 of a 2-part profile of Hans Clevers, Head of Pharma Research and Early Development at Roche.

New alternative methods to animal testing in early drug development are increasing in sophistication and predictability, yet they are vastly underutilized. In Vivo presents an overview of select technologies and vendors.

Slow adoption of alternatives to animal testing in the current decentralized regulatory framework.

This week, two device testing labs in China landed FDA warning letters; refunds for 1Health.io clients; FDA AR/VR product list expands. 

Despite increased openness by regulators and technological progress, the adoption of alternatives to animal testing remains challenging. The need for data validation by agencies and companies is a big factor.

AI modeling can predict which animal tests are useful and necessary, saving money for companies and meeting objectives set by regulators in the US and EU, VeriSIM Life’s CEO and founder Jo Varshney tells the Pink Sheet.

In addition to sustainability, Myers noted DEI and advancing alternatives to animal testing among key priorities for the group. “We have member companies that really lead the way on many of those. We want to be able to amplify their good work and their messaging, because they are good corporate citizens” and “it’s what consumers are demanding anyway,” he said in an interview.