Feb. 4, 2026 6:30 AM PT
To the editor: Whereas solely a small share of ALS instances are related to the SOD1 gene mutation, the SOD1 mouse mannequin actively contributed to the event of two key FDA-approved ALS medication, riluzole and edaravone. More recently, scientists found the drug tofersen reduces the protein expression SOD1 in rodents, monkeys and human sufferers. It acquired accelerated approval to deal with ALS.
In response to the U.S. Authorities Accountability Workplace’s May 2025 report on the state of organ-on-a-chip expertise, New Strategy Strategies (or NAMs) are enjoying an more and more necessary function in drug growth, however they lack established benchmarks.
Visitor contributor Kevin J. Morrison emphasizes the moral worth of ending the usage of animals in analysis (“Animal testing slows medical progress. It wastes money. It’s wrong,” Feb. 2). Till NAMs are totally validated with benchmarks that guarantee their accuracy, reliability and relevance, we should additionally contemplate the moral worth of growing medication for sufferers which are based mostly on the most effective obtainable science — a mix of animal analysis and NAMs.
Matthew R. Bailey, Washington
This author is president of the Basis for Biomedical Analysis.
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To the editor: I really feel for the troublesome well being journey that Morrison is dealing with. It’s clearly not solely difficult, however have to be greater than irritating as he discovers how out of contact each the U.S. medical analysis establishments and the FDA are resulting from their reliance on animal fashions as they seek for medical cures for a number of illnesses affecting thousands and thousands of people.
When he talked about resistance by medical establishments to human-based expertise, he may have additionally talked about that utilizing animals for analysis is huge enterprise that brings in cash to these offering the animals, the merchandise wanted for confinement amenities, and so forth., which possible provides to mentioned resistance. I actually hope that the stress to finish animal testing is getting new traction, as we’ve identified for many years that there are a lot better methods to search for cures. Might Morrison get the chance to see this modification in his lifetime.
Valerie Belt, Pacific Palisades
