U.S. senators push to reduce animal testing in $5.5B research field

Just the News ^ | February 4, 2025 | Shirleen Guerra

[Twotone]

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has reintroduced legislation to push the Food and Drug Administration to adopt modern alternatives to animal testing.

The bill would require the FDA to speed up its approval of new testing methods that don't involve animals, such as cell-based research, computer models, and lab-grown organ tissues. These methods are said to be more reliable, cost-effective, and humane.

The National Institute of Health, the primary U.S. government agency responsible for medical and health research, spends approximately $5.5 billion annually on taxpayer-funded animal testing, according to documents.

U.S. Sen. Corey Booker, D-N.J., the bill's leading sponsor, said, "We cannot allow the FDA to continue to delay implementing this critical law. If passed, this bipartisan legislation will require the FDA to finally update its regulations and will pave the way for more scientifically reliable and humane methods of drug development."

Between 90% and 95% of drugs that pass animal testing fail in human trials, which can take up to 15 years and cost between $1 billion and $6 billion, according to a news release from the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

[MNJohnnie]

The US Government hits it debt limit in March 2025 and THIS is the Democrat Senators priority?

Gee wish they had half as much “compassion” for unborn babies being ripped apart in the womb. Disaster suffers living in tents in the mountains of TN and NC due to “no funds” or the 50,000 women and children trapped in sexual slavery by sex traffickers in the USA currently

More shameless posturing by the do nothing party

[SpaceBar]

I’m all for this.

[moonhawk]

Ms too.

[mairdie]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pangaea6]

Well then why is Sen Booker and his colleagues holding up Kennedy from his position? RFK jr could and probably would accelerate this idea if confirmed quickly.