PETA scientists have researched the utter failure of the animal experimentation paradigm to help humans suffering from disease. It has been estimated that a “novel drug can take 10 to 15 years and more than $2 billion to develop, and failure rates occur in about 95 percent of human studies”. Clearly, there is a problem with the current paradigm for developing and testing drugs and getting them to market, and experiments on animals are one of the contributing factors.

PETA’s scientists have developed a plan for ending the use and killing of animals in laboratories, while also helping humans suffering from disease. PETA’s Research Modernisation Deal (RMD) provides a strategy for ending the use of animals in research, testing, and education and for accelerating the uptake of advanced technologies that outperform animal-based methods.

PETA is calling on the government to embrace this new plan and direct its resources away from what isn’t working and towards better methods.

The current research system is broken. 

  • Extensive research documents the failure in translating results from animals into treatments for humans in numerous disease areas, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, neurodegenerative disease, sepsis, and stroke.
  • The majority of “highly promising” basic science discoveries are based on animal studies, but fewer than 10% of these enter clinical use within 20 years.
  • The failure to reproduce preclinical research equates to more than £20 billion per year spent on misleading experimentation and unacceptable delays in delivering effective treatments.

We need a better way – and PETA scientists have come up with it: The Research Modernisation Deal.

What’s The Research Modernisation Deal About?

PETA‘s Research Modernisation Deal outlines a strategy for replacing the use of animals in experiments with human-relevant methods.

It includes the following steps:

  1. Immediately eliminate animal use in areas in which animals have already been shown to be poor and unreliable predictors for humans and their use has impeded progress.
  2. Conduct critical scientific reviews to identify the areas in which the use of animals has failed to advance human health and should therefore be ended.
  3. Implement transparent, robust prospective and retrospective evaluations for all projects using animals and allow for a public commenting period.
  4. Work with organisations and agencies globally to harmonise and promote international acceptance of non-animal testing methods for regulatory testing requirements.
  5. Increase funds for non-animal studies and decrease funds for animal studies.
  6. Educate and train researchers and regulators on the benefits of and how to use non-animal testing approaches.
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PETA opposes all experiments on animals and campaigns for an immediate end to all animal use. Government, regulatory, and scientific authorities must acknowledge the failure of animal studies and immediately end all animal use in disease research areas in which it is known that it does not produce results that help humans. To do otherwise is unethical, impedes good science, wastes resources, and harms animals.

Latest Campaign News

  • PETA welcomed 25 cross-party MPs and Lords for our Parliamentary Reception, Roadmap to Reality: Implementing the UK Strategy to Phase Out Animal Testing

Taking place at the Palace of Westminster, the event saw MPs and industry experts gather with TV personality and animal advocate, Gail Porter, to discuss strategies for turning the Government’s new roadmap to end animal testing into a reality. Experts at the event welcomed the Government’s roadmap, published in November 2025, but made it clear that this is only the starting point and that significant work remains, actions for which are outlined in PETA’s RMD.

  • UK Government publishes strategy to end testing on animals 

The Government has launched a strategy to phase out testing on animals, a significant step following decades of campaigning by PETA and our supporters for a shift to humane, animal-free science. PETA experts, using insights from our Research Modernisation Deal (RMD), played an important role in shaping the roadmap, feeding evidence and recommendations into the process and taking part in the Government’s stakeholder roundtable in May 2025. While the strategy is an important and welcome first step, it falls short of the required ambition to truly modernise science. We will continue to work with Government throughout the implementation of the strategy, promoting the insights of the RMD as a clear, actionable framework for change, and pushing for wider range of more ambitious and measurable targets to accelerate the shift to use of reliable and relevant non-animal scientific methods.

  • PETA Joins a Roundtable With Lord Vallance on Phasing Out Animal Testing 

On 14th May 2025, PETA joined a stakeholder roundtable with Lord Vallance and several other animal groups to provide input into the UK’s strategy to phase out experiments on animals. PETA urged the Government to consider PETA’s Research Modernisation Deal when shaping the roadmap, and stressed the importance of sustained, meaningful engagement with PETA and other animal protection organisations. We are continuing to communicate with the Government on its strategy to end testing on animals in the UK.

  • PETA Letter Supported by 100 Political Figures, Animal Allies, and Jamie Bamber

PETA sent an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer, asking for a government-led plan to phase out all experiments. The letter was signed by over 100 political figures, including Lord Sharpe of Epsom and other supporters, including actor Jamie Bamber.

  • PETA Protest Delay in Ending Experiments on Animals

PETA supporters wore masks depicting the faces of former prime ministers – including Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, and Tony Blair – to urge the government to stop “clowning around.” Gathered outside 10 Downing Street, the “clowns” told the government to mandate an end to all experiments on animals.

  • PETA Article Published in The Ecologist

A PETA scientist wrote an article published in The Ecologist, which called on the Prime Minister to develop a government-led roadmap for phasing out all experiments on animals.

  • PETA Hosts Parliamentary Reception

PETA hosted a special parliamentary reception at the Palace of Westminster. Over 30 MPs gathered to show support and pressure the government to develop a plan to phase out animal experimentation. The reception titled “A Roadmap for Non-Animal Science in the UK” showcased PETA’s Research Modernisation Deal and discussed the urgent need for the government to commit to ending the almost unimaginable suffering of millions of animals used in experiments.

  • The Labour Party Commits to Phasing Out Animal Testing

In its party manifesto, the Labour Party committed to phasing out animal testing. PETA is now calling on the party to fulfil its promise to animals and compassionate voters by immediately implementing the steps outlined in PETA’s Research Modernisation Deal.

Activity Archive

It’s Time for The Research Modernisation Deal!

Versions of the RMD are available for France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the European Union.

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