The latest Business updates from the science industry


REPORT by Heather Hobbs


Phasing out the Use of Animals in Research: Will the UK follow the European Vote?


“When talking about the phase-out of animal research, we feel it is important to emphasise what should be phased in: innovative, future-focused techniques that have the best possible chance of securing progress for patients.” Carla Owen


The adoption of a resolution vote on 16 September, by the European Parliament, [1], has called on the European Commission to take more positive action to phase out the use of animals in experiments through an Action Plan structured around defi ned targets and milestones. Hailed as a signifi cant turning point that could advance the progression of uptake and continuous advancement of alternative technology, will this initiative also push forward more progressive measures to be implemented by the UK Government?


Dr Jarrod Bailey, Science Director, Animal Free Research UK said: “I hope that this vote will give some impetus to calls for similar action in the UK, in line with the ‘Target Zero’ petition that we are running with Cruelty Free International and OneKind. This petition was only launched in July, and is already approaching 77,000 signatures, nearing the 100,000 needed to have a chance of being debated in Parliament. The UK government should see both – our petition and the EU vote - as barometers of feeling for where science should be heading, and both should engender confi dence in them, rather than uncertainty, for a shift away from animal research and toward human-specifi c research methods. On top of that, I think that China’s apparent recent enthusiasm for enabling western scientists to conduct research using monkeys there will embolden this confi dence: it will show the rest of the world how not to do something, rather than leading us to wonder what we could have done had animal research regulations not been relatively stricter in the UK. If the UK government’s responses and actions are evidence based, then we should see efforts here to facilitate and encourage a transition to humane and human- relevant research gather pace and substance – even if it’s for no other reason than to make sure the UK remains as a global science superpower, which is the government’s stated aim.”


More action needed


While existing schemes have seen a small reduction in animal use over the last 3-4 years, a recent report [1] from Humane Society International (HIS) pointed out that the total number of procedures using animals in the UK had disappointingly remained static at over 3 million for the last 12 years.


In an open letter to the UK Government (19 Aug), scientists and professionals from 24 animal welfare groups including Animal Free Research UK, (AFRUK) also shared the opinion that in order for the ‘seven great healthcare challenges’ set out in the Government’s Life Sciences Vision (Cancer, Dementia, Mental Health, Obesity, Ageing, Respiratory Disease and Vaccines), medical research would urgently needed to be modernised.


Having been encouraged by recent Government plans to launch a review which will focus on replacing the use of animals in the development of medicines, AFRUK have also called on the Government to take decisive action in three areas;


To acknowledge the need to move towards the implementation of animal-free, human-relevant models of disease and make a clear commitment to doing so.


To develop and publish a detailed plan, with timetables and milestones, setting out how human-focused methods will be phased in, and animal experiments phased out.


Since this issue has a signifi cant impact on public health and requires attention at the highest levels of Government, appoint a dedicated minister to facilitate this transition.


On 13 Sept, 2021, Animal Free Research UK, CEO, Carla Owen updated Labmate UK & Ireland on the Government responses received to date on the recommendations set out in the Open letter, entitled ‘A Call to modernise Medical Research for the benefi t of Public Health’.


“We have now received a response from the department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, which was also sent on behalf of the Home Offi ce. Unfortunately, the response did not commit to any of the measures called for in our open letter, but reiterated the Government’s usual position on the use of animals in research. However, we will continue our dialogue with policymakers, urging them to take bolder and more decisive action to modernise medical research.


We have not received any further information about the government review into replacing the use of animals in the development of medicines, which was mentioned in recent media reports [2]. We would welcome a review of this kind if it was accompanied by robust policy action.


Strong support from public Carla Owen, CEO, Animal Free Research


While the Government has not yet acknowledged the need to accelerate the replacement of animals with human relevant techniques, the last few weeks have highlighted the strength of public support for this important transition.


Jarrod Bailey


A petition launched in July, calling for the Government to publish a concrete plan for phasing out animal experiments, has already been signed by over 75,000 people (as of the 13/9/2021). When talking about the phase-out of animal research, we feel it is important to emphasise what should be phased in: innovative, future-focused techniques that have the best possible chance of securing progress for patients.


This approach will also help the Government to fulfi l its ambition of Britain becoming a global science superpower.


Are there any existing industry incentives to drive medical research away from use of animals in experiments where there is a possibility of doing so?


We’re not aware of any specifi c policy incentives designed to encourage industry to move away from animals. This means that the UK is at risk of being left behind by more progressive policies around the world. For example, the Dutch government has publicly embraced the need for animal free innovation and taken a collaborative approach in bringing together stakeholders from government, industry and academia to facilitate this process.


In addition, US government agencies are making signifi cant progress in replacing animals in toxicity testing, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) committing to stop funding and requesting tests on mammals by 2035.


Within the UK, a small amount of funding is provided via the National Centre for Replacement, Refi nement & Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). This includes the CRACK IT challenge, which is a funding competition to create 3Rs solutions that can be applied in industry. However, the NC3Rs has a small budget of around £10 million per year, and it does not focus solely on work to replace animals.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56