9 out of 10 drugs tested on animals fail in human trials

CELEBRITIES have teamed up with top photographer Rankin in a campaign to highlight the horrendous suffering endured by animals in laboratories.

- BY NADA FARHOUD

It comes as a study found 90% of drugs that appear to be effective after testing on animals go on to fail when they are used in human trials.

Comic Diane Morgan, TV host Kirsty Gallacher, Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden, Strictly contestant Pete Wicks and stand-up Russell Kane all posed with adorable beagles Luna and Elvis.

Rankin took the pictures for charity Animal Free Research UK.

He said: "As soon as I heard about this campaign, I knew I wanted to be involved. It's shocking to me we're still testing on animals in the name of science when alternatives exist."

More than 2.6 million animals are used in British laboratories every year. Campaigners say not only do the experiments cause death and unnecessary suffering but they are also a waste of hundreds of millions in taxpayers' cash.