“Until we have the courage to recognize cruelty for what it is, whether its victim is human or animal, we cannot expect things to be much better in this world.

Time and time again we see the devastating effects of animal testing in humans. Below is a snapshot of cases throughout history that have shown animal testing is despicable science!

This medication caused devastating malformations in up to 30,000 infants. “Safety tested” in 10 strains of rats; 11 breeds of rabbit; 2 breeds of dog; 3 strains of hamsters; 8 species of primates; and various cats, armadillos, pigs, guinea pigs, and ferrets. Later investigations in pregnant animals (mice, rats, guinea pigs) did not reveal malformations in offspring. 

Caused 320,000 cases of heart attacks, stroke and cases of heart failure worldwide - 140,000 of them fatal before being pulled in 2004. 6 animal studies in 4 different species showed protective effects against heart disease.

3,500 deaths in Britain. Tested on rats, guinea pigs, dogs and monkeys (in high doses)

1/500th dose given to 6 human volunteers, all fell critically ill within minutes and left with longterm complications.

Caused brain hemorrhage and necrosis in 5 human volunteers who were administered 1/500th of the safe dose in dogs. One volunteer died from this.

Deaths of 5 human volunteers despite being safe in mice, rats, dogs, monkeys and woodchucks (again the animals were tolerant of a doses hundreds of times higher than in humans).

Non-human animals can hinder scientific progress - learn about how treatments could have been missed if we had solely believed animal tests!

Causes birth defects in rats and other animal species, but it is widely used in humans for its antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also used in low doses for its antiplatelet effects, which can prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Ernest Chain, one of the scientists working on penicillin, originally noted that penicillin killed guinea pigs but not rats, sparking an initially lukewarm reception. However, it was later discovered that guinea pigs have a different metabolism and reaction to the substance, and penicillin went on to revolutionize the treatment of bacterial infections in humans.

A cancer medication used mainly in the treatment of leukemia. Although toxic in certain animal models, it is effective in human treatment. For instance, when it was initially tested on cats, it showed extreme toxicity, which almost led to its abandonment. Fortunately, further testing revealed its benefits.