Novo Nordisk eliminates drug testing on live animals

Novo Nordisk has announced that it has successfully phased live animal testing out of its quality control operations.

The pharmaceutical company will no longer be using specimens such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits to test the quality of its medicines, with the final animal-based virus control test taking place on November 28th 2011.

This represents the culmination of efforts to eliminate unnecessary animal testing from its operations, with new laboratory assays and other methods to be used instead.

Although some animal tests are still essential in the development and quality assurance of new pharmaceutical agents, Novo Nordisk said this nevertheless represents a milestone in animal ethics.

The company's executive vice-president and chief science officer Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen said: "We have been working for more than a decade, in close collaboration with regulatory authorities around the world, to eliminate obsolete tests."

Earlier this month, the organisation pledged support to the World Diabetes Day campaign, carrying out initiatives such as free screenings in poorer nations.