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Animal testing
Research involving animals has been imperative to advance medical innovation, especially drug development. It will continue to be important to further discoveries until viable non-animal alternatives are developed and accepted.
Animal studies are a legal and regulatory requirement when developing medicines to ensure safety and efficacy. J&J is committed to limiting the number of animals tested whenever possible. Various European guidelines, national laws and regulations state testing must be performed in animals before human exposure. These tests are conducted under the most stringent conditions and may only be performed if there are no alternatives.
Animal studies are a legal and regulatory requirement when developing medicines to ensure safety and efficacy. J&J is committed to limiting the number of animals tested whenever possible. Various European guidelines, national laws and regulations state testing must be performed in animals before human exposure. These tests are conducted under the most stringent conditions and may only be performed if there are no alternatives.
Ethical and experimental control
The laws and guidelines impose strict rules on conducting and documenting animal tests and on the treatment and care of animals involved in scientific research. J&J strictly complies with these laws and abides to the highest standards of animal welfare.
The Three Rs at J&J
J&J has a very strong commitment to the 3Rs principles: Replacement, reduction, and refinement.
Replacement
Replacement means that, whenever possible, studies are conducted without animals. This can be done, for example, by using cell cultures, 3D cell structures, chip technology (e.g. organ-on-a-chip), physico-chemical methods, molecular biology or mathematical models. At Janssen, all medicines and therapies in development are tested in vitro first, for example, in cell cultures, or elsewhere outside of a living organism. This allows us to make initial, important assessments about the safety and efficacy of our compounds and significantly reduces the number of required tests that involve animals.
Reduction
Reduction means that the number of animals involved in scientific research must be as low as possible. This number should never be less than the minimum number required to obtain reliable results. All of our tests involving animals require input by a biostatistician to ensure an appropriate experimental design and that the right number of animals is involved to answer the research questions.
Refinement
Refinement refers to modification of husbandry or experimental procedures to minimize pain and distress and to enhance the well-being of the animals. In addition to researchers, animal caregivers and veterinarians are part of the J&J team that ensures the well-being of the animals. J&J has an extensive and holistic enrichment program that provides species specific mental and environmental stimuli and social housing to enhance welfare, including positive reinforcement training and extensive human interactions, with playing, petting, grooming, outdoor walks and access to play areas.
Furthermore, J&J supports rehoming some of our research animals through experienced and approved partners.
One day we hope alternatives and non-animal models can replace all animal testing. Today, there is still a need to conduct animal testing to discover and develop innovating and safe treatments for both humans and animals.
One day we hope alternatives and non-animal models can replace all animal testing. Today, there is still a need to conduct animal testing to discover and develop innovating and safe treatments for both humans and animals.
Greater transparency
In November 2019, J&J, along with twenty-one other Belgian research centers signed the Transparency Agreement on Animal Research in Belgium. Together, we are committed to communicating more frequently and openly about animals involved in research.