The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a new rule that encourages the use of modern, non-animal testing methods for checking the safety of new drugs before they are tested in humans. The rule updates how the FDA talks about these tests by replacing terms like ‘animal tests’ and ‘animal studies’ with more general terms like ‘nonclinical tests’ and ‘nonclinical studies.’ This change does not mean animal testing is banned—it simply recognizes that newer, non-animal methods can also provide reliable safety information. The FDA clarified that the rule does not eliminate or require changes to animal studies, nor does it add new costs or regulations for drug developers. The update aligns with a 2022 law that supports the use of both traditional animal studies and newer testing methods. Kyle Diamantas, the Acting FDA Commissioner, explained that the rule gives scientists more flexibility to choose the best testing method for their research. ‘Our goal is not to replace one rigid approach with another,’ he said. ‘We want to support science that keeps patients safe, whether that involves animal studies when necessary or non-animal methods when they work better.’ The FDA has also created a new database to share examples of these modern testing methods, known as New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). Additionally, the agency recently appointed new leaders in drug evaluation and technology to support these efforts.