Each of these patients highlights the shortcomings of animal-based research in their respective fields. The reality is that animal experiments are unreliable: many treatments that work on animals fail in humans, and vice versa. Even widely used medications like aspirin, penicillin, and paracetamol would not have been approved today if they had been subjected to modern animal testing standards.
Despite their flaws, animal experiments continue to dominate medical research. In Germany alone, 99% of government research funding goes towards animal experiments, leaving less than 1% for cutting-edge, human-relevant methods. This outdated system slows down scientific progress and prevents patients from accessing better treatments.
New technologies such as organoids, in-vitro testing, AI-driven research and organ-on-a-chip systems offer more reliable, ethical and efficient strategies. These methods are already proving to be game-changers yet they remain underfunded. A paradigm shift in research is long overdue.
The DAAE campaign had a widespread response from patients with serious illnesses. More than 100 people responded via an online form giving their first name, age and diagnosis. DAAE provides in-depth information about the respective diseases, including evidence why animal experiments don’t work and which cutting-edge animal-free methods are already available
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