![]() In certain cases, genetically modified rodents could potentially replace primates. More.ģ.1 Because of scientific reasons, testing pharmaceuticals on non-human primates is in certain cases a very small but almost compulsory part of the global testing procedure, especially for drugs and vaccines that involve the immune system. As far as possible, the number of animals used should be reduced, methodologies should be refined, and the use of animals should be replaced by alternative methods (3Rs principle). Tests are first carried out on cells grown in the laboratoryĪlternatives to the use of non-human primates ( NHPs) in research and testing do exist and can complement but not yet completely replace testing on these primates. Only certain primate species show a similar immune response so any animal-testing of drugs to prevent transplant rejection has to be done on these species. However, the human immune system rejects pig organs strongly. More.Ģ.4 Using pig organs for transplantation is a way to address the shortage of organ donors. Some new, non-invasive research techniques are being developed that can be used on humans and primates, but important limitations remain. Research on pain and experiments on primates which require entering their skull raise difficult ethical concerns. More.Ģ.3 Primates play a unique role in brain research because they are the only animals with brains that approach the complexity of the human brain. Primates may also be needed to quickly detect new diseases such as SARS that could spread across the world. Primate species are the only ones that can be used to develop effective malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis C, or HIV vaccines and drugs for humans. Primates often remain the most suitable animal option because their immune system is very similar to that of humans. More.Ģ.2 In research on infectious diseases, vaccines and drugs that are developed are typically first tested on cells grown in the laboratory, then on animals, and finally on humans to check their safety and effectiveness. Primates are needed to test certain drugs with potential effects on female genital organs, eyes, birth outcomes, blood coagulation, or the brain, as they are the only mammals with specific physiological traits similar to humans. Only few candidate pharmaceuticals are actually tested on non-human primates ( NHPs). Preliminary experiments on animals – often rats and dogs – are intended to protect the health of people taking part in these trials. Only few candidate pharmaceuticals are actually tested on primatesĢ.1 Before pharmaceuticals reach the consumer, their safety has to be tested on humans during clinical trials. With regard to animal welfare, major investments have been made in recent years to improve housing conditions of captive primates, taking into consideration their physical and social needs. Primates caught in the wild are very rarely used in research but are still needed to avoid the adverse effects of inbreeding of stocks. With some exceptions, research on animals that are bred rather than caught in the wild tends to deliver more accurate and reliable data. Nearly all primates used in scientific experiments are born to animals that are themselves bred in captivity, sometimes for several generations. They are mainly used for safety testing of pharmaceutical products and devices, but also for fundamental research in biology and for research and development of medical products and devices. Experiments on such primates have lead to important findings in biology and medicine.Ĭurrently, primates are only used in animal experiments when there are no suitable alternative methods or species. Use of primates in EU research and safety testingĪround 12 million animals are used each year in scientific procedures in the EU, and among these, around 10 000 are non-human primates ( NHPs), mainly monkeys and apes.
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