No faith in animal tests (From Western Telegraph)

No faith in animal tests

Dear Editor, - When animal tests don't consistently predict drug effects from one species of animal to another, why should anyone be surprised when they don't predict effects in people?

We should no longer put faith in animals tests for ensuring our own safety.

Among growing concerns, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has uncovered that 92% of drugs that pass animal tests fail to be safe and effective in people.

The massive allergic reaction suffered by the six men at the centre of this tragedy is rare but, even so, official authorities admit that it cannot be reliably predicted by tests on guinea pigs. Even tests on monkeys may be confounded by species variations. Rates of drug absorption and excretion (which determine safety margins) often also differ between species.

That just adds up to animal suffering without a sound scientific basis.

To protect human and animal lives, drug development needs an urgent overhaul, with the introduction of safer test methods that don't cause animal suffering. Such work is underway, but the replacement of animal experiments is seriously under-funded. For more information about non-animal medical research, see our website www.drhadwentrust.org.uk

Dr Gill Langley Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research 84A Tilehouse Street Hitchin Herts.