New technologies are emerging to replace animal testing in drug development
As regulatory agencies move away from mandatory animal studies, new approach methodologies (NAMs) like organ-on-a-chip systems are gaining traction. These technologies, which use human cells to mimic organ functions, are increasingly being used by pharmaceutical companies to predict drug safety and efficacy.
According to IEEE Spectrum, the shift toward non-animal methods is being driven by regulatory changes. In late 2022, the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 authorized the use of NAMs in preclinical studies. By September 2026, the FDA planned to replace references to 'animal tests' with 'nonclinical tests' in its regulations. This follows a 2025 pledge by the agency to prioritize non-animal methods for safety testing.
While technologies like the lung-on-a-chip, pioneered by Donald Ingber at Harvard’s Wyss Institute, show promise, significant hurdles remain. Thomas Hartung of Johns Hopkins University notes that implementation requires complex change management. For widespread adoption, these systems must be standardized, mass-produced, and validated to ensure consistent results across different laboratories and commercial applications.
Source: Tech to Replace Animal Testing Is Almost Ready. Scientists Are Not
