United States – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that work is underway to shift from animal testing to Ai assisted computational modeling. Which means dogs, bunnies, chimpanzees, and more will be used MUCH less frequently in drug testing.
In a recent interview, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced plans to move away from what he described as “unnecessary testing” on animals, pointing instead to rapidly advancing technologies that may replace traditional methods.
“We’re going to use computational modeling, where AI can look at a molecule and predict if it’s going to be toxic,” Makary explained. “We’re using organ-on-a-chip technology, which means you grow cell lines in a lab and apply the drug in the laboratory.”
These alternatives, ranging from artificial intelligence to lab-grown human tissue models, are designed to better predict how drugs will behave in the human body. According to Makary, that could significantly reduce reliance on animals such as mice, rabbits, and even primates.
“All of this means we’re not going to need the chimpanzees and bunny rabbits and all of these animals with nearly the frequency,” he said.
For decades, animal testing has been a standard part of drug development. But critics have long argued that animal models often fail to accurately predict human outcomes. Makary echoed that concern, noting that animal testing is not as reliable as many assume.
“It turns out animal models are just not good models to test toxicity in humans,” he said. “Mice are not the same as human beings. They’re not the same, and 90% of drugs that pass animal testing do not pass in humans in terms of safety and efficacy.”
That statistic has been cited in multiple studies and has fueled growing interest in more human-relevant testing methods.
The FDA’s announcement aligns with a broader trend in science and regulation. In recent years, federal agencies have increasingly supported alternatives such as, AI-driven drug modeling, Organ-on-a-chip systems that mimic human organs, and Advanced cell cultures using human tissue. These methods are often faster, more cost-effective, and potentially more accurate than traditional animal testing.
If implemented widely, the shift could spare large numbers of animals from laboratory use while also speeding up the drug development process. Faster, more efficient testing ultimately benefits consumers as well. By shortening research and development timelines, pharmaceutical companies may be able to bring new treatments to market more quickly, and at lower cost.
While the announcement marks a significant step, experts caution that animal testing will not disappear overnight. Regulatory frameworks, industry practices, and scientific validation of new methods all take time to evolve.
Still, the FDA’s direction is clear. The future will include fewer animals being used in testing as new technologies take their place.
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