To ask you to sign this petition? Ending testing on animals. UK.

[Errolwasahero]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1129818812696297&set=a.543004791377705&type=3

it’s to end testing on animals in the uk. I’ll check if the above link worked and add a new one if needed. It’s abhorrent that it’s still happening and needs to be stopped!

Thank you.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/736578

here you go! Link to actual petition x

Some things need to be tested on animals before humans. I am against testing things like cosmetics on animals, but not lifesaving medical interventions.

If you ban all animal testing in the UK, you will simply be outsourcing it to other countries that will continue to test on animals. Your funding for advanced biochemical research will dry up. Your medical research universities will drop in the league tables and lose leaders in those fields.

I've signed. I can't believe it's still legal.

This, sadly.

Animal testing is a vital step for many vital drugs. So, banning these tests outright would be a terrible idea.

While they still do it and profit from it there will be no development into the newer, better ways. They are breeding Beagles specifically for this, ffs! 🤬

Ok. The process is roughly this.

1. Identify need for a new drug
2. Develop new drug based on simulation
3. Test drug on cell/tissue samples (To ensure it isn't toxic)
4. Test drug on Animals (Again, to ensure the drug is not toxic)
5. Test Drug on healthy human Volunteers (FInal check for toxicity/side effects before then tests to see dosage/efficacy.)

If a drug fails on any step, they start again.

A newer or better way would be going straight from tests on a small sample of cells/tissue to a human?

Do I like it? No. Do I understand the incredible benefit it has given in the development of antibiotics/treatments that will have saved the lives of people all around....... Yes.

Animal tests fail 98% of the time. They now have excellent alternatives like organ-on-a-chip, computer modelling and human based research. Humans have not the same anatomy or metabolism as other animals and all animals are different, so products that have proved safe in animals might be highly dangerous to humans. Plus the fact it is abhorrent cruelty of the worse kind.

My child went through chemotherapy last year. It saved his life and I imagine the chemo drugs were initially tested on animals.

Do I wish there was another way? Yes
At the expense of potentially halting further advancements in things such as cancer treatment? I'm sorry but no.

Thanks OP. I've signed it

A newer or better way would be going straight from tests on a small sample of cells/tissue to a human?

You don't actually work in medical research or cell culture do you.

People would die.

Animal tests fail 98% of the time

So do you really think going straight to humans would work? What death rate in volunteers would you think acceptable?

They now have excellent alternatives like organ-on-a-chip, computer modelling and human based research

Progress is being made. There is not yet a replacement for complex biological systems.

Indeed. Using another type of technology as a metaphor.

Virgin Racing attempted to use computer simulations only to design Formula One cars. It failed spectacularly.

Actual analysis of reality is just needed when it comes to life and death.

OP - great news, the government has set out a serious plan to phase out animal experiments, starting with a 35% reduction by 2030.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2lpekjeg9o

TLDR
Animal experiments peaked at over 4 million in 2015 and fell to just under 3 million in 2020 (horribly high numbers). Scientists are working on alternatives to animal testing (tissue from stem cells, cells from different organs in a chip, AI, computer simulation etc). Measures include

New legislation that if a safe alternative exists , it must be used.
New centre for safety testing new alternatives, to speed up implementation
£30m research hub plus unspecified amount of funding for research

Thank you @Hellohelga that is great news! I am not so naive as to think it’s easy, nor immediate. But we must keep looking for better answers and push science. Wonderful that they are at least trying.

watch some of the videos of beagles being released if you still think it’s ok, or essential, or there’s no alternative.

No I don’t think it’s at all ok. I’d be in favour of an immediate ban on all dogs, cats and primates and moving towards ending it all.

Will you be volunteering yourself and your healthy DC for test in lieu of animal testing?

there is currently no viable safe alternative to testing life saving drugs on animals. Until there is no one should be demanding that we slow down approval and access to transformational treatments

A newer or better way would be going straight from tests on a small sample of cells/tissue to a human?

JFC you haven’t even bothered to do the most cursory of research into drug development have you?

It isn't ideal but I'd rather watch a video of a beagle rather than watch my child die of cancer. Wouldn't you?

The reason my child is alive is due to cancer treatment that was initially tested on animals. I'm sorry but my child living is far more important to me than any animal.