Pharmaceutical Company Ends Use of Forced Swim Test After Pressure from PETA

Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, headquartered in Paris with U.S. offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey, has officially confirmed that it no longer uses the controversial forced swim test on animals. This decision comes after a global campaign led by PETA and over 440,000 emails from concerned supporters.

The forced swim test, also referred to as the “behavioral despair test,” involves placing small animals like mice and hamsters into beakers of water, forcing them to swim in an attempt to stay alive. The test was historically believed to offer insights into human depression, but many scientists have since discredited it as an unreliable model. Moreover, it may even prevent the discovery of drugs that could potentially benefit humans. Between 1995 and 2021, Sanofi reportedly used around 1,500 animals in such experiments.

In a statement released on the company’s website, Sanofi announced, “Sanofi does not use the Porsolt swim test. We have no research projects that involve the use of this test and have no plans for this test to be used in the future, either in-house or at a contract research partner.”

“Terrorizing tiny animals in a scientifically debunked experiment does nothing to advance the treatment of depression in humans. PETA applauds Sanofi for backing good science and dropping this horrifically cruel test,” stated PETA neuroscientist Dr. Emily Trunnell.

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