Press Release: Animal Welfare Report 2023: Advancing the principles of the 3Rs with the digitalization of animal research

Over the past few decades, the consistent promotion and application of the principles of the 3Rs have succeeded in replacing many animal experiments (Replace), reducing the number of laboratory animals (Reduce), and keeping their stress levels to a minimum (Refine). Although these efforts will continue to be made, animal testing will remain indispensable for medical progress for the foreseeable future. This year’s Animal Welfare Report, available online for the first time on our website, shows the efforts the pharmaceutical industry is making in order to achieve significant progress on the 3Rs.

The Interpharma Animal Welfare Report 2023 offers an overview of the current status of animal experiments in the research-based pharmaceutical industry based on three main areas:

• There is a lot of potential in the digitalization and networking of data relating to animal experiments. The report examines in depth the initiatives the pharmaceutical industry is taking to break new ground in data networking.
• In an interview with Birgit Ledermann, Compliance 3Rs Leader at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), we discuss how AAALAC International has harmonized animal welfare across the world with its international accreditation program, and has improved animal welfare in countries with lower standards.
• The third topic shines a light on the relationship between human and animal health and the associated One Health approach.

The principles of the 3Rs have made a big impact

The industry continues to strive to minimize animal testing and to continuously develop the high standards that are in place today. It is guided by the principles of the 3Rs. Interpharma’s members have been following this strategy for more than 10 years. Back in 2010, the Animal Welfare Charter laid the foundation for implementing the 3Rs within the pharmaceutical industry. Specifically, this means applying and actively promoting the animal welfare principles of the 3Rs – the Reduction, Refinement and Replacement of animal experiments – particularly with regard to the development and use of methods and techniques to further replace animal experiments, reduce the number of animals required or minimize the stress on laboratory animals before, during and after their use.

The complete Animal Welfare Report 2023 can be found on our website at https://animalwelfare.interpharma.ch/en/ in German, French and English.