Asthma drug testing on rats

Drugs to treat lung conditions such as Asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) are tested in animals.

On average, 3 people die from an asthma attack in the UK every day. In 2017 1,484 people in the UK died from an asthma attack in the UK.* 

Around 30,000 people with COPD die annually in the UK.**

5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma: 1.1 million children (1 in 11) and 4.3 million adults (1 in 12). Around 1 million people are being treated for COPD. The treatments people suffering from a respiratory disease receive came from research with animals including guinea pigs, rats and dogs.

* Asthma UK: https://www.asthma.org.uk/about/media/facts-and-statistics/ 

** British Lung Foundation: https://statistics.blf.org.uk/copd 

https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/respiratory-disease-asthma-and-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/

Last edited: 6 April 2022 09:24

Get the latest articles and news from Understanding Animal Research in your email inbox every month.
For more information, please see our privacy policy.