First, many researchers have altered or discontinued some animal studies because of the rising cost of using animals under increasingly stringent federal regulations. These extensive new rules have resulted from Congress' response to the demands of animal rights groups and public concern over the alleged mistreatment of animal subjects.
A second reason, says Ringler, is the development of alternative testing methods that require fewer animals or eliminate the use of animal subjects altogether (The Scientist, July 22, 1991, page 23). "Progress toward the use of nonanimal tests, however, has been very slow," he says. Assessing the validity of nonanimal methods as compared with that of long-used animal tests is difficult. In addition, several in vitro tests may be required to replace a single animal model, so switching to nonanimal methods may take more time, money, and effort than deemed practical by labs.
One large corporation interested in animal alternatives is ...
