Better science, better medicines: how innovation is reshaping animal testing

Could medicines one day be developed without animal testing? Scientific innovation is advancing rapidly, and momentum is growing in Europe and globally to reduce andultimately replace the use of animals in research. The EU has launched a roadmap towards phasing out animal testing for chemical safety assessments, and EMA continues to build on its longstanding commitment to the 3Rs principles  (replace, reduce, refine animal use). Working with partners across Europe and internationally, EMA is helping drive this transition, supporting the development of alternative approaches that protect both science and patient safety.

In this episode of Inside EMA, Stefano Ponzano, Head of EMA’s Office of Translational Sciences, discusses the future of animal testing in medicines development and regulation. He explores the role animal studies have traditionally played, explains the challenges and opportunities of moving beyond them, and highlights how innovative methods could not only reduce animal use but also generate more human-relevant data to improve medicines development.

Related documents:

• Ethical use of animals in medicine testing | European Medicines Agency (EMA)
• Regulatory acceptance of new approach methodologies (NAMs) to reduce animal use testing | European Medicines Agency (EMA)