STAT+: HHS unveils new initiatives to reduce animal testing in drug development

The Department of Health and Human Services announced a new set of strategies to accelerate a shift toward human-based research methods and reduce the use of animals in medical testing—the second such announcement this year.

In one move, the FDA issued a final rule stating that research methods other than animal testing can be used when "appropriate" for determining the safety of drugs and biologics. Specifically, the rule replaces terms like "animal tests" and "animal studies" with "nonclinical tests" and "nonclinical studies."

Separately, the NIH unveiled several initiatives, including $88 million in funding for 10 infrastructure projects across the country designed to encourage the use of "new approach methodologies" such as cell-based assays, organs-on-a-chip, and computer models. Together, the steps signal continued federal momentum toward adopting alternatives to animal testing in drug development.