HHS rolls out new FDA rule to allow non-animal testing methods in drug development

The Department of Health and Human Services announced a new set of strategies aimed at shifting drug development away from animal testing toward human-based research methods.

The FDA issued a final rule that permits the use of alternative, non-clinical tests when appropriate for assessing the safety of drugs and biologics, replacing terms like "animal tests" with "nonclinical tests".

Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the changes modernize outdated regulations, invest in human-based technologies, and remove barriers that have kept researchers dependent on animal models.

The initiatives are intended to accelerate the adoption of newer tools and reduce reliance on animal models in biomedical research.