Current:Home > NewsThe FDA no longer requires all drugs to be tested on animals before human trials -FinanceMind
The FDA no longer requires all drugs to be tested on animals before human trials
View
Date:2025-04-27 16:33:53
A new U.S. law has eliminated the requirement that drugs in development must undergo testing in animals before being given to participants in human trials.
Animal rights advocates have long pushed for such a move, and some in the pharmaceutical industry have argued that animal testing can be ineffective and expensive.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, who sponsored the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, said in a statement that the new law will help end the "needless suffering and death of animal test subjects" and will "get safer, more effective drugs to market more quickly by cutting red tape that is not supported by current science."
PETA cheered the new law as a "radical shift" in how new drugs and treatments will be created.
Signed by President Biden in December as part of a larger spending package, the law doesn't ban the testing of new drugs on animals outright.
Instead it simply lifts the requirement that pharmaceutical companies use animals to test new drugs before human trials. Companies can still test drugs on animals if they choose to.
There are a slew of other methods that drugmakers employ to assess new medications and treatments, such as computer modeling and "organs on a chip," thumb-sized microchips that can mimic how organs' function are affected by pharmaceuticals.
But Aliasger Salem, a professor at the University of Iowa's College of Pharmacy, told NPR that companies opting to use these alternative testing methods as a replacement for animal testing must be aware of the methods' limits to ensure their drugs are safe.
"The companies need to be aware of the limitations of those technologies and their ability to identify or not identify potential toxicities," Salem said.
"You don't want to shift to systems that might not capture all of the types of toxicities that have been seen in the past without ensuring that the methods that you have will capture that."
An FDA spokesperson told NPR that it will "implement all applicable provisions in the omnibus and continue to work with stakeholders to encourage the development of alternative testing methods."
This year's federal budget also includes $5 million for a new FDA program aimed at reducing animal testing by helping to develop and encourage industry to adopt new product testing methods, the spokesperson said.
The National Association for Biomedical Research, which supports testing drugs in animals, says animal testing in conjunction with human trials "remains the best way to examine complex physiological, neuroanatomical, reproductive, developmental and cognitive effects of drugs to determine if they are safe and effective for market approval."
The new law amends the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which was originally passed in 1938.
veryGood! (2489)
Related
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Tobacco use is going down globally, but not as much as hoped, the WHO says
- Georgia economist warns of recession as governor says his budget will spur growth
- Apple plans to remove sensor from some watch models depending on how a court rules in patent dispute
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Saints fire longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, last member of Sean Payton regime
- The Quantitative Trading Journey of Linton Quadros
- Biden administration asks Supreme Court to intervene in its dispute with Texas over border land
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- The JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger was blocked by a federal judge. Here’s what you need to know
Ranking
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Georgia economist warns of recession as governor says his budget will spur growth
- 'Ideal for extraterrestrial travelers:' Kentucky city beams tourism pitch to distant planets
- Slain Connecticut police dog remembered as ‘fallen hero’
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Saints fire longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, last member of Sean Payton regime
- Eagles center Jason Kelce intends to retire after 13 NFL seasons, AP sources say
- An Ohio official was arrested for speaking at her own meeting. Her rights were violated, judge says
Recommendation
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Eagles center Jason Kelce intends to retire after 13 NFL seasons, AP sources say
Woman who sent threats to a Detroit-area election official in 2020 gets 30 days in jail
Pacific Northwest hunkers down for ice and freezing rain, while other US regions also battle cold
Average rate on 30
Biden administration asks Supreme Court to intervene in its dispute with Texas over border land
Rhode Island governor says higher wages, better student scores and new housing among his top goals
Ellen Pompeo's Teen Daughter Stella Luna Is All Grown Up in Emmys Twinning Moment