What are the Ethical Considerations in Preclinical Toxicity Testing?
Preclinical toxicity testing involves the use of animal models, which raises ethical concerns regarding animal welfare. Researchers must adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations to minimize animal suffering. The 3Rs principle—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—guides scientists to replace animal models with alternatives where possible, reduce the number of animals used, and refine procedures to minimize distress. The use of alternative methods, such as in vitro and in silico models, is encouraged to complement animal testing.
