Overview

• The Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung reported 2.13 million animals used in experiments across Germany in 2023, with 1.4 million killed without use, marking a 22% decrease from 2022.
• Thuringia saw a sharper decline in surplus animal killings, down 41% to 6,498 in 2023, reflecting regional efforts to reduce waste in research practices.
• Critics, including Ärzte gegen Tierversuche, are organizing protests in 16 cities, demanding the complete abolition of animal testing and greater support for alternative methods.
• Neuroscientist Frank Kirchhoff launched a campaign encouraging researchers to publicly endorse animal testing, highlighting its legal necessity in drug safety, including for mRNA vaccine development.
• Advocates for alternatives point to underfunded technologies like 3D skin models and Human-on-a-Chip systems as viable, humane options that require stronger legislative and financial backing.