EARA has published a feature looking at the current status of alternative methods to animals in safety testing, and exploring what this means for wider biomedical research.

In the field of regulatory testing, which assesses the safety of drugs and other substances for human use, so-called New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are increasingly being used that can replace or complement studies in animals.

However, at present  just 13% of the total number of animals used in the EU, in 2022, were in the field of regulatory testing, while 72% were used in basic or translational/applied research, where non-animal methods still remain limited.

The article describes the different types of NAM that are commonly employed, such as organoids and computer modelling, and lays out the areas in which these NAMs have replaced animals, and where they currently cannot.

EARA has also recently produced a statement on NAMs that highlights the need for a balanced and science-based dialogue when discussing a transition away from animal research, despite increasing political pressure for a phase out.

The EARA feature emphasises that though significant progress has been made with NAMs, animals still remain the only accepted method for many scientific and regulatory questions, and it is only by being realistic and guided by evidence that society can move towards the use of more alternatives in safety testing and beyond.