Metabolomics has recently gained attention as an alternative technology to reduce animal testing in the life sciences field. This method analyzes toxicity through biological reactions rather than the chemical structure of substances. In the past, only structural similarities were considered when classifying chemicals. However, metabolomics now allows for more accurate toxicity assessments by simultaneously measuring thousands of metabolites.

Recently, an international research team confirmed the reliability of this technique by analyzing identical rat plasma samples and obtaining consistent results across different laboratories. Specifically, five laboratories successfully distinguished similar chemicals in rat plasma using various methods and equipment. This demonstrates that metabolomics is a robust method capable of replacing toxicity predictions in animal experiments, potentially leading to a reduction in the frequency of rat testing.

This development is significant not only for its potential to greatly reduce costs and time but also as a major advancement in animal ethics. The research team verified that they could identify similar chemicals in rat plasma samples using different methods and instruments across five laboratories. This proves that metabolomics is a powerful and reliable method that can substitute for toxicity predictions traditionally done through animal experiments.

As a result, it’s expected that the frequency of rat experiments can be reduced. This progress is viewed as a substantial step forward, both in terms of efficiency and in addressing ethical concerns surrounding animal testing in scientific research.