The future of primates in biomedical research is being examined by a committee under the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM).

But as it currently stands, the committee shows bias towards animal research, comprised of more than half who are vested in primate research, including several who have conducted monkey experiments for decades.

The public has the opportunity to submit comments about the committee and its work until Monday April 18, so please take action today.

Join CAARE in requesting that the committee include members who understand the need to move away from primate experiments by using the link and sample comment at the bottom of this message.

A panel dominated by scientists using monkeys will not impartially evaluate the severe limitations of primate research.  Despite their use in many areas of biomedical research, primates have failed to translate adequately to progress in human medicine.

Following decades of research, that continues to this day, primate experiments on immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have proven largely useless. More than fifty preventive vaccines and over thirty therapeutic vaccines that showed success against HIV and AIDS in primate studies have all failed in human clinical trials.

In vitro studies using human white blood cells are what led to the current HIV treatments of AZT, lamivudine and protease inhibitors.

Much of the recent focus on the need to use primates has involved COVID-19 research. But despite their prevalence in SARS-CoV-2 research, the science does not support their use. One recent study in late 2021 showed that COVID-19 immune response in macaques translates poorly to humans and calls into question their standard use in studying SARS-CoV-2.

Recent drug development has seen a rise in the use of biologic therapies that include monoclonal antibodies and RNA therapies, among others. These therapies are so human-specific that they cannot be accurately evaluated in primates, or other animals, but must be studied using human relevant methods. With nearly half of new current drugs in this category, dependence on monkey experiments is not only futile but an impediment.

In fact, the National Academy of Sciences already acknowledged critical problems with flawed animal experiments in 2017 when they issued a report on “Therapeutic Development in the Absence of Predictive Animal Models of Nervous System Disorders.”

The report noted that there had been a significant lack of progress in the development of treatments for neurological disorders, like Parkinson’s and schizophrenia – areas that often use primates – and called for an increase in methods using human genetics and other innovations, given the lack of effective animal models.

Please use this link today and submit your comments no later than April 18 to insist that the committee not be stacked in favor of monkey researchers, but must include experts in modern methods of research without animals.

Below is a sample comment that you can submit, or you can use your own words.

I am deeply concerned about the bias in the committee appointed for Nonhuman Primate Model Systems: State of the Science and Future Needs.  A panel dominated by scientists using monkeys will not impartially evaluate the severe limitations of primate research.  Despite their use in many areas of biomedical research, primates have failed to translate adequately to progress in human medicine.

In fact, NASEM already acknowledged critical shortcoming with animal experiments in the 2017 report on “Therapeutic Development in the Absence of Predictive Animal Models of Nervous System Disorders.” The report noted that there had been a significant lack of progress in the development of treatments for neurological disorders, like Parkinson’s and schizophrenia – areas that often use primates – and called for an increase in methods using human genetics and other non-animal methods.

I urge you to create a committee that is impartial and better represents a diversity of thought and greater expertise in modern, human-relevant research methods.

Citizens for Alternatives to Animal Research and Experimentation (CAARE), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, established to highlight and promote research without animals.

Please donate to support CAARE’s mission to reduce animal suffering by disseminating information about the power and progress of research without animals. 

CAARE is a proud affiliate of the Center for a Humane Economy, dedicated to forging a humane economic order.