Initiatives on the Use of Animal and Animal Testing Alternatives in Research Activities
Animal testing is essential for the research and development of pharmaceuticals and medical devices to confirm their safety and effectiveness.
To ensure that animal experiments are conducted appropriately from the perspective of both science and animal welfare, our group's research laboratories have established internal regulations based on the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals (Animal Welfare Act), the Standards for the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals and the Relief of Pain, and the Basic Guidelines for the Conduct of Animal Experiments, etc. in Implementing Institutions Under the Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
We have also established an Animal Ethics Committee to review all animal experiment plans to ensure that they are formulated in accordance with the 3R principles: "Refinement, Replacement, and Reduction of the number of animals used."
In addition, we conduct self-inspections to ensure that animal experiments are conducted appropriately.
In response to these efforts, our group's animal testing facilities undergo regular on-site inspections by a third-party organization (Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center, Animal Testing Facility Certification Center), and have been certified as facilities that conduct animal testing appropriately.
Our group has a policy of not conducting animal testing in the development of cosmetics (including medicated cosmetics), and we are promoting product development using alternative methods to animal testing.
Regarding our efforts to develop alternatives to animal testing, in addition to tests using humans (patch tests, cumulative irritation allergy tests (RIPT), etc.), we are actively promoting research and development activities that utilize in silico toxicity prediction, which involves simulations and data analysis using computers and information technology, in vitro evaluation methods using cultured cells, and in chemico evaluation methods, which evaluate the reactivity of biological substances with chemical substances using analytical equipment.
In order to continue providing products and services that contribute to the well-being of our customers, we believe it is necessary to promote research into alternatives to animal testing.
*Excluding cases where there is a responsibility to explain safety to society or where required by government in some countries.
Initiatives to Stop Animal Testing－Initiatives for Animal Testing and Alternatives
Since January 27, 2016, our group has not conducted animal testing, including outsourced testing, in the development of cosmetics (including medicated cosmetics).