Myths and facts

Here we list more than 20 common misconceptions about animal research and provide some facts to help you make up your mind on where you stand.

See also our FAQs.

• Research on animals is not relevant to people because animals are different from people.

 

• Animal testing doesn’t work and causes drug side effects.

 

• Medicines that work in people are toxic to animals and vice versa.

   

• There is an endless list of drugs that have to be withdrawn because of side effects and these side effects are a major cause of hospital deaths.

   

• The side-effects and subsequent withdrawal of the arthritis treatment Vioxx were due to animal tests.

   

• Animal research doesn’t work and hasn’t made any contribution to medical progress.

   

• The clinical trial tragedy (testing the medicine TGN1412) at Northwick Park shows that animal tests don't work.

   

• 25 years of primate research has failed to find vaccines, cures or treatments for AIDS.

   

• Systematic reviews demonstrate that animal studies are meaningless for human health.

   

• Animals don’t need to be used in research because there are alternatives.

   

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can now be used on humans to get the same level of information as invasive brain studies in animals.

   

   

• Microdosing can replace animal safety tests.

   

• Vaccines and antibiotics have achieved nothing. Public health measures such as clean water and good sanitation are the solution to the problem of infectious disease.

   

• Many pointless, unnecessary animal experiments are carried out.

   

• Animal research is a cheap and easy option and is carried out for profit.

   

• Most research animals are cats, dogs or monkeys.

   

• There are no laws or regulations protecting laboratory animals.

   

• Researchers do not care about the well-being of laboratory animals.

   

• Laboratory animals suffer great pain and distress.

   

• Animals are used for testing cosmetics.