Together we call on WHO to oversee move from animal tests towards coordinated and humane research
We have joined forces with Cruelty Free Europe, EuroGroup for Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to call on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to coordinate effective human-relevant research and avoid the duplication of animal tests in the search for a COVID19 vaccine.
Thousands of monkeys, dogs, cats, ferrets and mice in laboratories across the globe are suffering in the rush to find and test treatments for the COVID19 virus. In a joint statement released today we ask the body charged with leading global health responses to consider the harm being caused to animals used in coronavirus research and focus on the use of humane, human-relevant tests instead.
With evidence pointing to our mistreatment of animals being at the root of the virus, we think it’s time humanity rethinks our relationship with animals and looks beyond reliance on cruel and unreliable animal research with its history of failure in the development of drugs for people.
Dr Katy Taylor, our Director of Science & Regulatory Affairs, says: “It’s not good enough that we continue to default to outdated and unreliable animal tests in our efforts to develop treatments for human ailments. These tests are the failed science of the past and not what we need or should expect in the twenty-first century. We want to see a safe and effective vaccine as soon as possible, but we call on researchers worldwide to cooperate not compete and focus on modern humane and human-relevant studies to avoid unnecessary animal suffering in the urgent search for a COVID19 vaccine.
“The real prevention against future pandemics of this sort would be a total rethink of our relationship with animals.”
Read the full statement here.