Patron of pioneering charity Animal Free Research UK, actress
Joanna Lumley, today gave her support to the Government’s review
to end animal medical experiments in UK laboratories.
The well-known animal welfare champion said she welcomed media
reports Home Secretary Priti Patel’s has ordered officials to
find ways to end the use of animals in the development of
medicines.
Joanna Lumley said: “I am among the millions of
animal lovers in this country who learned over the weekend the
Government is to review the use of animals in the development of
medicines and will seek to find ways to end such practices in
UK laboratories.
“As I have written in the national media recently, the government
should invest more in technologies such as testing on human
lab-grown organs and cells, and limiting the reasons for which
creatures can be used in experiments. And it must increase the
training and educational opportunities available to early careers
researchers so that the next generation of scientists see animal
free technologies as the gold standard.
“These points must form part of the review if we are to end
animal testing and see Britain help shape a world where human
diseases are cured faster without animal suffering.
“I hope all who care for animals will join me in throwing my
support behind the Government’s review and together we shall
keenly await its findings.”
According to media reports, Ms Patel met with , the animal
welfare minister, after being shocked by a video of a facility
where beagles are bred to be tested on. is understood
to be pushing for a road map to phase out and then ban animal
experiments.
Last year, 2.88 million scientific experiments were completed on
animals, with more than 4,000 tests conducted on beagles. Over
100 cats were used in experiments. In total, 86,000 experiments
were classed as causing ‘severe’ suffering to the animals
involved. Around 2,400 monkeys were subjected to experiments,
many of whom were imported from Africa and Asia in small crates
in aircraft holds, after being raised in breeding centres that
often have appalling conditions.
Yet as statistics show, over 90% of new medicines that look
promising in animal tests fail in human trials because they are
unsafe and/or do not work in humans due to significant
differences in our genetic makeup.
While the government is making much of the 15% decrease from the
previous year (2019), the Home Office acknowledged lockdowns due
to COVID-19 affected laboratories and likely helped reduce the
number which annually totals over three million – or six animals
a minute every day.
Public opposition to animal experiments has consistently been
high for many years. A YouGov survey carried out on behalf of
charity Animal Free Research UK in the Spring showed over
two-thirds of Britons – 68% – want an end to animal experiments
in medical research in UK labs.
Jarrod Bailey, Animal Free Research UK’s Science
Director, said: “Animal research will be consigned to
history sooner or later as the world’s scientific community
embraces better - and more humane - science. Those who hesitate
will be lost, and this review is a major opportunity for the UK
and its science industry to grasp. By committing to a strategic
phase-out of animal research and phase in of human -specific
research, the government can ensure the UK remains one of the
world’s leading scientific players”.
Stats and Facts:
- Each year in Britain almost three million experiments
are conducted on animals (2020 HO stats) are used in
research including for human medicines and diseases
-
Yet over 90 percent of new
medicines that look promising in animal tests fail in human
trials because they are unsafe or do not work in humans due to
significant differences in our genetic makeup.
- Every minute of every day, six animals are
used in research in the UK
- Animal Free Research UK has awarded grants to over
260 projects including on cancer, Alzheimer’s asthma, diabetes,
heart disease since our foundation in 1970
- We are creating new generation of animal free researchers and
funding Animal Replacement Centres of
Excellence (ARCs)
