Use of Animals in Cystic Fibrosis Medical Research
The Danish Cystic Fibrosis Association is well
aware of public concerns about the use of animals in medical research.
However, the appropriate and responsible use of animals is an indispensable
part of biomedical research in general. Therefore, we support this use.
In the 1960's barely half of those with CF
reached their school age. Since then the life expectancy for CF-patients has
increased remarkably. At present many CF patients reach adulthood, receive
educations, obtain jobs, have families and even children of their own. This
has only been possible as a result of huge research efforts in drugs
and treatment for CF involving animal use in research. So far the use of
animals in CF research has represented the way foreward to better treatment,
survival and quality of life for CF-patients.
The 3 R's
All medical research involving animals should
reflect the longstanding guiding principles of the so-called 3 R's:
Replacement of animals by non-animal methods where possible; the Reduction
of numbers to a minimum level to obtain valid results where replacement is
not possible and Refinement of all procedures to minimise adverse effects.
In this context, we strongly support European
and international initiatives which foster the implementation of the 3 R's
without impeding pharmaceutical research and medical progress for
CF-patients.
Genetically modified animals in research
Genetic approaches are indispensable to
enchance our knowledge and understanding of disease. Therefore, we also
support the use of genetically modified animals in CF-research.
In 1993 genetically modified CF mice were used
in CF gene therapy research. CF mice have also been used to identify 'modifer'
genes in CF explaining there are differeneces in the severity of symptomes
of CF-patients. Research and understanding of the CF-gene has developed
rapidly in recent years helping scientists to identify numerous approches in
which gene and drug therapy may be attemped in CF. To screen all approaches
in CF-patients would take decades while CF-patients are still dying
prematurely because from their disease. CF mice allow rapid identification
of treatments that show most promise and thereby significantly reduce the
timescale in CF-research and maybe safe the lives of the patients suffering
from CF.
At present - there is no alternative to use of animals in research
Established alternatives to the use of animals
in CF-research, including cell culture and computer models, allow a limited
part of an organism to be studied. These methods are very useful for studies
on particular organs and help considerably to limit the number of
animals used in medical experiments. We
encourage all researchers to develop such alternatives whenever possible.
However, we feel strongly that before any non-animal alternative method is
adopted, it must be proven to be a true substitute, capable of
provinding researchers with data comparable in
safety, efficacy, quality, reliability and validity to those curently
avaliable through the use of animals.
Until this is fully demonstrated, we cannot
support the elimination of animals use in CF research, because it will
hamper and reduce the treatment and quality of life for our patients.
24 May 2005
Danish Cystic Fibrosis Association