By Franklin Delgado
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published draft guidelines promoting the use of alternative methods to animal testing in drug development, seeking to replace the routine use of primates and other animals.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a $150 million investment in the development of methodologies that do not require the use of animals, illustrating a long-term commitment to reduce traditional testing.
Experts, such as the director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute, Delcianna Winders, highlight the need for significant changes and continued work on the research models necessary to address complex issues that are not yet fully resolved by alternative technologies, he noted. cnn.
Opinions and future perspectives
Despite recognition of the importance of animal testing for medical discoveries, surveys show a decline in public acceptance of these practices, reflecting a change in social awareness about animal welfare.
cnn Remember that in 2001, 65% of Americans surveyed said they considered animal testing morally acceptable, while more recently, in September 2025, a Gallup poll recorded that support for this practice fell to 47%, and another 47% considered that such research was morally wrong.
The path toward completely eliminating animal testing faces significant challenges, including the need for robust data to support the effectiveness of new methodologies. Even so, institutions continue to explore alternatives and encourage research without animals in their procedures.
Alternative methods
Currently, several alternative methods to animal testing are being developed that combine biotechnology, computational models and closer human physiology.
“On-chip” models and bioartificial organs
- “Organs-on-chip” puny chips with human cells that imitate organs (lung, liver, kidney, etc.) and allow testing drugs and toxicity without using live animals.
- Organoids and 3D reconstructed tissues (e.g., reconstructed human epidermis such as Episkin™) are used for dermal and cosmetic irritation testing.
Techniques in vitro and cell phones
- Human cell cultures (cell lines, neurons, hepatocytes) to evaluate toxicity, pharmacological activity or neurotoxicity of pesticides and contaminants.
- Tissues from animal serum or slaughter remains (for example, bovine corneas in the BCOP test) to study ocular irritation as an alternative to tests in rabbits.
Computational models and AI
- Methods in silico: computer simulations, toxicity prediction models and drug design that reduce the need for initial animal testing.
- Use of enormous data and bioinformatics to analyze databases of toxicity, gene expression and adverse effects, minimizing the number of animals required.
Simulation and education platforms
- High-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality and human physiology simulators for medical training, surgery and initial tests without animals.
- Early clinical trials and studies in human volunteers, complemented by these models, to replace the observation of effects in non-human species.
These methods are used today in cosmetics regulation, toxicology, pharmacology and teaching, and the trend is that they increasingly replace experiments on animals.
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