Pharmaceutical-giant Johnson & Johnson has announced it will ban the use of forced swim “Despair Tests” developed in the 1970 to test the effectiveness of antidepressants on rats. The company said that its decision was based on a review by an independent panel and not influenced by any pressure from drug companies. The test involved gauging a rat’s will to live after being dosed with antidepressants on its tendency to stop swimming when dropped in a beaker of water. Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly are among companies that still use the test.
Pharmaceutical-giant Johnson & Johnson has announced it will ban the use of forced swim “Despair Tests” developed in the 1970 to test the effectiveness of antidepressants on rats. The company’s decision follows pressure from PETA who condemned the practise. The test involved gauging a rat’s will to live after being dosed with antidepressants on its tendency to stop swimming when dropped in a beaker of water. Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly are among companies that still use the test.