Animal testing doesn't help develop medication for human, so why do we still do it?

Question

Six separate animal trials were studied and reserchers found that none of the results were replicable in humans.

It has been shown that some results on animals have the complete reverse effect on humans.

i have done my reading and research. i think it is incredibly arrogant of humans to think they can just test on animals for their own supposed 'good'! Read a bit of Capra and get a bit educated yourself!

A lot of medications actually reproduce the problem they're supposed to stop or reduce!

Answer 1

It's an archaic and cruel practice. There's no reason for it... you're right - there have been cases where the effects on animals were the exact OPPOSITE of humans. Why? Animals have different nervous systems, different circulatory systems, different digestive systems, etc... Therefore even WITH animal testing, drugs need to be tested on humans before they're cleared for human use.

Humans can be horrible. The possibilty of saving human lives doesn't warrant the torture and, ultimately, death of innocent animals. Why humans think animals have the obligation to be frivolously sacrificed for humans to dick around with "experimental" medicines is beyond me... they're living, breathing, FEELING, sentient beings (interestingly enough, scientific research supports this... charting brain patterns in response to emotional stimuli). And its not like these animals are treated well prior to and during testing... they're locked in small cages, tested on and dissected while still alive and without anaesthetic, etc... Horrifying things.

As for the example that someone else gave... "it's a cancer and you have weeks to live..." Let's go with that. It's a cancer and you have weeks to live. Volunteer YOURSELF to be tested on! Obviously if you don't get treatment you're gonna die in a few weeks anyway, so why won't you volunteer yourself? What worse can happen? If you aren't willing to do that for the good of yourself and the good of your fellow man, then WHY would you expect innocent animals (through cruel force, against their will) to be GIVEN the disease *then* treated for it... How is that THEIR obligation? How is it YOUR right to require that of another living thing?

See, this is why I can't support the AIDS campaign... and why I detest it, in fact. Do I want AIDS cured? Yes, of course. However, there are countless people dying daily in Africa... SO TEST ON THEM! They're dying anyway! But no... instead they lobbied the government to actually repeal the few animal rights/welfare/protection laws there are so they could have unmitigated access to torturing all the animals they want. So f*** them.

True... animal testing has been used in many of the biggest medical breakthroughs. But how necessary was animal testing to any of those? The process is... they test on animals, find something that works, then apply it to humans. Then it doesn't work, so back to the drawing board with more animal testing. And on and on... Except for a few rare cases, the results on animals didn't directly lead to cures for humans (I mean, have you HEARD about the breakthroughs in AIDS research... for rats? Obviously they haven't worked for humans).

But yeah, point being... animals testing is pointless and cruel. *thumbs up*

Answer 2

My condition is very complex, scientists are trying to do research on it and find a cure by testing on mice with the same exact condition. I'm for animal testing for medical reason, against it for cosmetic reasons

Answer 3

Errrr, yes it does, animals use is still vital to research for new medicines and to test their safety before they can be given to humans. Only about 5% of R&D spending is used for animal research. The rest goes toward research involving chemistry, computer modelling, isolated cells and tissues, and other non-animal methods before reaching the big-budget item: clinical trials enrolling human subjects. Animals are only used when there is no alternative, and then this work is monitored by government authorities who apply stringent guidelines.

The use of animals remains a small but crucial part of the process of discovering new medicines and vaccines, and ensuring their safety. Tuberculosis, asthma, polio and meningitis are life–threatening diseases that are now much better treated or prevented with drugs and vaccines whose development could not have gone forward without animal testing. There are a number of published independent reports which confirm the fundamental validity of the use of animals in research and testing.

Even so, there is no adequate way to mimic the effects of a drug on a whole body, which has many interacting systems, without giving it to animals.Where progress can be made it will, but you need to also remain realistic about the limits of alternative tests, and companies will never compromise the safety of the patients who are the ultimate beneficiaries of this work.

Answer 4

Six animal trials out of the thousands that are performed daily is not bad. We test on animals before we test on humans. We do this because we are at the top of the food chain and can. It takes years and lots of results before we test drugs on humans, so if one is proposing that we forget the animals and just start with humans I would love to know how many humans would be willing to volunteer for those trials. I can see the sales pitch, "nothing breathing has taken this drug, so we don't know if it will kill you instantly or slowly, but come on down and sign up for the trial. Your instant death could save thousands of lives."

Answer 5

With all due respect, it's rather silly of you to presume that it doesn't help. Pharmaceutical companies are massively profit-driven. Why would they do something that doesn't help them make profits? Just because it annoys PETA? What a strange assumption.

Obviously, the companies do it because it does help develop medications for humans. To a large extent, human biology is similar to other animals (since we are animals ourselves of course). Lots of things will differ, but the core principles - is it poisonous, that sort of thing - will give a strong indication of the effect on humans.

Answer 6

I hate the thought of poor animals been tested on and I would refuse to buy make up or any thing cosmetic that has been tested on animals.
But as far as medical research goes, I agree with it they might not always be successful with their trials but they will get there and it will be worth it in the end.
Just remember it is saving lives, humans come before animals and if you could save one dying child at the expense of an animal then I support them.

Answer 7

Stef, imagine you are dying. It's a cancer and you have weeks to live. Or, you can have a wonder drug which fluffy the rabbit pioneered. Without fluffy and his friends there wouldn't be a cure.

So...... Would you want to take it. Or, do you have a child and they need the drug.

Is animal testing "Out of sight, out of mind"??

Would one of these six results give the key to future medicine or techniques??

How many successful drugs and chemicals are there because of fluffy and his friends.

Hands up, who wants to stop animal testing and volunteer themselves to the drugs. Hmmm, can't see any hands in the air. Practice what you preach mate.

Answer 8

" Animal testing doesn't help develop medication....."
Well, off on the wrong foot straight away! What rubbish you talk!
Most human medication has been developed using animal studies. True, not all have proved relevant but, hey, if we knew what we were doing it wouldn't be research! The benefits of animal experimentation in the final stages of drug research are invaluable!

Answer 9

you know i was kind wondering the same thing were are far from different form a cat and dog and monkeys the only animal closest to us on the inside (guts) is a pig that is the closest animal to resemble us there skin ther stomch and intestins

Answer 10

Six separate animal trials out of how many in a year?.. and from that you conclude that animal testing doesn't help develop medicines?

Similar conclusions/arguments would be:

"Six people fail their driving tests every day, therefore the driving instruction curriculum doesn't help to train drivers"

"Six people get pregnant everyday from failed condoms, therefore condoms are useless as a method of contraception"

"Six people who study hard for their exams still fail their exams every year, therefore studying hard for your exam doesn't help you pass them"