ethical stewardship
Advancing alternatives to animal research
We’re using our position as an investor to encourage healthcare companies, universities, and government to reduce reliance on animal research. By seeking to support uptake of alternatives to animal research, we aim to reduce animal suffering and protect long-term resilience – helping to shift the industry toward solutions that are better for animals and people too.
A genuine commitment to the 3Rs
In Australia, there is little regulatory oversight of animal research and limited coordinated effort to advance 3R principles in the private sector. We see it as our responsibility to explore opportunities to address these issues with healthcare companies we invest in.
Replacement
of animals
Reduction
in the number of animals
Refinement
of conditions and methods
We have five indicators to assess whether companies involved in animal research can demonstrate genuine application of the 3Rs.
- Engagement of research institutions with adequate animal welfare standards.
- Use of research institutions which uphold the 3Rs principle.
- Consultation with individuals or organisations with scientific expertise in alternatives to animal research at the design stage of proposed animal studies.
- Engagement contracts with research institutions which include requirements that research institutions will:
- apply high animal welfare standards,
- apply the 3Rs at all stages, and
- report on their application of the 3Rs.
- Does at least one of the following:
- Puts funding towards developing alternatives to animal research models.
- Supports regulatory changes and public funding of research to improve application of the 3Rs and the use of alternatives.
- Has a public statement on the company website that outlines the steps they are taking in relation to the 3Rs.
did you know?
190 million animals
were estimated to have been used for scientific purposes in 2015 worldwide (not including animals used in observational research).1
- We released a statement supporting non-animal models, signed by 27 organisations including universities, research institutes, and healthcare companies.
- Progress has since stalled due to funding shortages and de-prioritisation by universities on of these types of initiatives. We are now exploring ways to pivot this strategy.
- Australian Ethical and the Foundation co-sponsored a CSIRO project on a non-animal models roadmap for Australia.
- After notifying of our intention to divest over animal research concerns, Cochlear committed to establishing a formal policy on animal ethics and Opthea committed to using only the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)2 accredited vendors for animal research.
- We wrote to nine Australian & NZ companies to confirm they are meeting our minimum expectations, five companies confirmed that they did.
- Engaged 14 companies and other stakeholders (including scientists on animal ethics committees and animal protection organisations) to help us better understand how companies approach the 3Rs, what best practice looks like, and areas for improvement.
- We developed five indicators of genuine application of the 3Rs for companies involved in animal research to demonstrate genuine application of the 3Rs.
What the companies have done
- Cochlear committed to establishing a formal policy on animal ethics.
- Opthea and Pharmaxis committed to using only AAALAC accredited vendors for animal research.
- CSL and Immutep have introduced animal welfare policies.
- Fisher & Paykel has committed to introducing an animal welfare policy.
- Antisense published a statement on its website that commits to meeting all five of our 3R indicators.
We cannot take credit for all this work. We work with Australian and overseas investors, civil society organisations including Market Forces and the Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility. All the wins we have had to date are attributable to pressure that has been applied from every direction.
Where we draw the line
Where healthcare companies are involved in animal research, we require evidence of genuine commitment to the 3Rs.
