A University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) study, recently published in Environmental Health Perspectives, sheds new light on the evolution of predictive toxicology. In particular, the article explores the dynamics underlying the perception, use, and implementation of alternative toxicity testing strategies. With the help of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), the authors performed a survey of over 1,300 toxicologists working in 195 countries and from all sectors of the field. The survey assessed the perceived viability of alternative testing strategies, their use in practice, as well as the perceived barriers and drivers to their use for a range of applications. Thanks to SOT’s involvement, two-thirds of the respondents were SOT members making the publication’s findings highly relevant to the Society’s interests.
Some highlights of the survey results include a wide variation in the perceived viability and use of alternative strategies depending on their application, the lowest being for qualitative risk assessment. The authors also identified regulatory acceptance as the primary barrier to the adoption of alternative testing strategies, while the need for expedited information, reduction in costs as well as regulatory demands being among the top drivers.
The publication of this work is particularly timely as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the release of the National Research Council seminal publication “Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy” that catalyzed efforts by governmental agencies, industry partners, and academics to rethink their approach to toxicity testing. It also comes a year after the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (the “Act”) was enacted. The Act aims to substantially reform the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and includes provisions to reduce vertebrate animal testing.
For questions regarding this study, please contact the authors, Dr. Patrick Allard or Prof. Timothy Malloy.