The use of animals in pharmaceutical research

While the pharmaceutical industry continues to develop new alternatives, the use of animals in medical and pharmaceutical research is currently the only way to safely develop medicines.

Testing the safety of a medicine in animals, before it is tested in humans in a clinical trial, significantly reduces the risk of a potential new medicine causing serious side effects or adverse reactions in patients.

When developing a new medicine, pharmaceutical companies must follow rigorous international and UK regulatory requirements designed to protect patients. Global medicines regulators, including the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), require animal testing to provide essential data about the safety of a potential new medicine before it is used in human clinical trials.

Animal models are also used in medical research to understand the cause of a disease. Once the mechanism of disease is understood, further research can develop novel medicines to specifically target the disease pathway.

The pharmaceutical industry is committed to the principles of reduction, replacement, and refinement (3Rs) in the use of animals in research.

NC3Rs

The ABPI-NC3Rs Partnership

The ABPI has a longstanding partnership with the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). NC3Rs is a UK-based scientific organisation which works nationally and internationally to replace, refine, and reduce the use of animals in research by funding research, providing training and resources, and developing policy.

Concordat on Openness in Animal Research

The Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK is a set of commitments for UK-based life science organisations to improve how they communicate about animal research. The ABPI is a proud signatory of the Concordat alongside 127 other organisations, including many ABPI member companies

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Understanding Animal Research (UAR) Membership

The ABPI is a member of Understanding Animal Research (UAR), a not-for-profit organisation which explains why animals are used in medical and scientific research. UAR aims to achieve a clearer understanding of the humane use of animals in medical, veterinary, scientific, and environmental research in the UK.

Last modified: 30 April 2024

Last reviewed: 30 April 2024