Which of the following are considered Non-Animal Testing Models (NAMs) in the context of modern pharmaceutical development?

Organoids and organ-on-chip platforms

Clinical trials on human volunteers only

Traditional in-vivo animal toxicology studies

Large-scale field testing on wild populations

What is the primary reason cited for the high attrition rate of drug candidates in phase I clinical trials?

Inaccurate prediction of human biological response by animal testing models

Strict international bans on all forms of drug testing

Over-reliance on AI-generated data without human oversight

Lack of funding for pharmaceutical companies

Daily

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19 July 2026

Non-animal testing in pharmaceutical development

The topic addresses advancements in biotechnology and the need for a national regulatory framework for non-animal testing, which aligns with GS3 science and technology indigenization and GS2 regulatory governance.

Notes

Non-animal testing models (NAMs) include organoids, organ-on-chip platforms, computational models, and AI-enabled approaches.
Only 10-14% of drug candidates globally entering phase I clinical trials receive regulatory approval, often due to poor predictive accuracy of animal models.
NAMs offer potential to shorten drug development timelines, reduce costs, and improve predictive accuracy for human biological response.
India currently uses platforms like C. elegans, Drosophila, zebrafish, yeast-based models, and ex-vivo tissue studies.
NAMs are already validated for specific uses like pyrogen and endotoxin testing, and in cosmetics/personal care sectors.
Global leaders in NAM adoption include the U.S., EU, U.K., and Japan, which have established national centres and funding streams.
India faces challenges including limited regulatory clarity, lack of a unified national strategy, and underutilised research infrastructure.
A national framework is proposed to align stakeholders, prioritize investments, and provide clear guidance on the acceptance of NAM-generated data.

Questions

Discuss the potential of Non-Animal Testing Models (NAMs) in transforming India's pharmaceutical sector from a generics-led industry to a hub for original drug discovery. 150 words

Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min

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The integration of Non-Animal Testing Models (NAMs) into India's regulatory framework is essential for both ethical research and global competitiveness. Analyze the challenges in adopting these technologies and suggest a roadmap for a national strategy to institutionalize them. 250 words

Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min

0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

Which of the following are considered Non-Animal Testing Models (NAMs) in the context of modern pharmaceutical development?

What is the primary reason cited for the high attrition rate of drug candidates in phase I clinical trials?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

Non-animal testing is key to next phase of pharma growth

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