Certara Study Shows Half of Americans Unaware of FDA/NIH Move to Phase Out Animal Testing of New Drugs

Key findings from the study:

Awareness lags behind regulation

• 50% of consumers had no knowledge of FDA/NIH plans to phase out animal testing, underscoring limited awareness of a major policy shift.
• Awareness is higher among Gen Z (62%) than Boomers (36%), yet awareness does not always equal support.
• Once informed, 72% said they would take a drug not tested on animals, while 28% would not.

Cultural views reveal deep contradictions

• 59% of consumers believe animal testing is unethical, yet 28% say they would refuse medicines developed without it, underscoring a continued reliance on animal testing as a proven standard.
• Women are more likely than men to say animal testing is unethical (68% vs. 49%).
• 25% say animal testing is unethical while 26% say it makes medicines safer

Generational differences shape priorities and trust.

• Safety is the top priority for Boomers (69%), while only 46% of Gen Z say the same.
• Gen Z is the most likely to trust AI over animal models (58%) and values speed to market far more than boomers (30% vs. 2%)
• Younger groups are more skeptical to take drugs not tested on animals, with Gen Z (37%) saying they wouldn’t take them vs. only 18% of Boomers.

As regulators, industry, and the public align on reducing animal testing in drug development, AI-enabled biosimulation is helping shape the future of safe, ethical, and efficient drug development. To learn more about Certara’s alternatives to animal testing and how its Non-Animal Navigator solution helps to reduce, refine, or replace animal studies, visit https://www.certara.com/solutions/non-animal-navigator/.