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Yet, paradoxically, we want fewer animals used in research to test substances to protect us.
The debate on the relevance of much cancer testing is likely to continue for many years yet.
No. It is impossible to guarantee the absolute safety of any medicine. But by testing new medicines on a wide range of laboratory animals for several generations, the risks are reduced to levels which are low enough for final tests to be carried out on human volunteers.
In the thalidomide tragedy more than 20 years ago, thousands of children were born with major limb defects. Thalidomide, which was used to control nausea in pregnant women, had not been - and was not required to be - tested on pregnant animals before it was used on humans. Later tests revealed the drug was toxic to mouse embryos.
As a result of this tragedy, new medicines must now undergo more comprehensive animal tests before they can be used on people.
No human being should ever be put at risk because of a reluctance to do the necessary tests on animals.
More than 90 per cent of animals used in medical research in Australia and New Zealand are specially-bred rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits.