Alternative methods for animal testing

Animal experiments are permissible “with reasonable justification” to answer scientific questions in basic research and in biomedical research for the diagnosis and treatment of human and animal diseases. They are also required in regulatory toxicology for legally prescribed approvals of products (e.g. chemicals or pharmaceuticals); in each case, it must be examined “whether the intended purpose can be achieved by other methods or procedures”. These other methods or procedures are often referred to as “alternative methods”. In the narrower sense, they include, above all, approaches that replace animal testing. But they also include approaches that reduce or improve animal testing.

Alternative methods as an integral part of research

Alternative methods are an important, integral part of research. However, this does not necessarily lead to the complete replacement of animal testing. Rather, these approaches exist in parallel and/or complement each other. In addition, only a very small proportion of animal testing can (so far) be completely replaced by alternative methods.

There are a variety of methods or procedures to avoid, reduce or mitigate the expected suffering of animals in experiments. These alternative methods or procedures are based, for example, on computer models, cell and tissue cultures, the use of alternative organisms or the refinement of animal testing. Nevertheless, there is an enormous demand for, for example, predictive computer-based models or test systems that predict the complex disease process in the patient. 

Development, implementation and application of alternative methods

The Fraunhofer competence platform “Alternative Methods for Animal Experiments” aims to serve as a forum to promote discussions between various interest groups such as government agencies, industry and politics, while also generating new ideas that will facilitate the acceptance and implementation of alternative methods. This is supported, among other things, by the funding of small projects on new advanced alternative methods. It should also serve to carry out further studies (e.g. with industry consortia) or joint applications in EU or BMBF calls for proposals. In addition, the competence platform “Alternative Methods for Animal Testing” provides reliable information on alternative methods for science, philosophy and public policy.

The Fraunhofer competence platform “Alternative Methods for Animal Testing” is intended to promote regulatory discussion, consultation and development of decision-making tools for alternative methods. Fraunhofer is to be visibly and recognizably established in the scientific community.

At the IGB, IME, ITEM, ITMP, ISC and IZI, numerous alternative methods are available, particularly for acute and chronic immune diseases. This includes organs such as the heart, liver, kidney, skin, intestine and lung, which can be used for efficacy and safety testing. However, alternative methods for the safety testing of chemicals and drugs are also well represented. These areas of expertise are being incorporated into the platform.

Outlook

The next steps will be to build the Fraunhofer expertise platform “Alternative Methods for Animal Testing”. To this end, representatives from various interest groups will be involved, meetings in the form of an open exchange between experts will be held, and cooperation between partners will be discussed using specific examples. In addition, the potential and synergies within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are to be identified and promoted.

There is a huge need for research in this field. For example, there is currently a great need for the development of computer-aided methods, for the development of immune-competent models and for the development of complex models.