title: Making progress and gaining momentum in global 3Rs efforts: how the European pharmaceutical industry is contributing.
abstract: Animal research together with other investigational methods (computer modeling, in vitro tests, etc) remains an indispensable part of the pharmaceutical research and development process. The European pharmaceutical industry recognizes the responsibilities inherent in animal research and is committed to applying and enhancing 3Rs principles. New nonsentient, ex vivo, and in vitro methods are developed every day and contribute to reducing and, in some instances, replacing in vivo studies. Their utility is however limited by the extent of our current knowledge and understanding of complex biological systems. Until validated alternative ways to model these complex interactions become available, animals remain indispensable in research and safety testing. In the interim, scientists continue to look for ways to reduce the number of animals needed to obtain valid results, refine experimental techniques to enhance animal welfare, and replace animals with other research methods whenever feasible. As research goals foster increasing cross-sector and international collaboration, momentum is growing to enhance and coordinate scientific innovation globally-beyond a single company, stakeholder group, sector, region, or country. The implementation of 3Rs strategies can be viewed as an integral part of this continuously evolving science, demonstrating the link between science and welfare, benefiting both the development of new medicines and animal welfare. This goal is one of the key objectives of the Research and Animal Welfare working group of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations.
authors.affiliation: Office of Animal Welfare, Ethics and Strategy, GlaxoSmithKline, UK.
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fleetwood
authors.affiliation: Science Policy Platform, Animal Welfare, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), Belgium. magdachlebus@efpia.eu.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chlebus
authors.affiliation: Corporate Animal Science & Welfare (EQ-A) Merck KGaA, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.affiliation: Disposition, Safety and Animal Research, Animal Research and Welfare, Sanofi, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dudoignon
authors.affiliation: Science Policy Platform, Animal Welfare, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), Belgium.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lecerf
authors.affiliation: Animal Health and Welfare, Drug Safety, Servier, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maisonneuve
authors.affiliation: Drug Safety and Metabolism, AstraZeneca, UK.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D032761:Animal Experimentation; D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004345:Drug Industry; D005060:Europe; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D012107:Research Design
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