The latest edition of Nature Medicine (volume 14, number 8, August 2008) has an interesting and thoughtful editorial on the use of nonhuman primates in research. We welcome this heavy-weight journal playing its part in the debate.

The editorial recognises that there are ethical issues involved, and that the use of nonhuman primates has long been a contentious issue. Nonetheless, its conclusion is that ’the solid scientific case that can be made to support the use of monkeys and apes in research must take precedence over ethical arguments until the latter can be settled for good‘.

Nature Medicine debunks the myth that there can be realistic alternatives to all use of nonhuman primates in research. As it points out, ’in vitro and computational strategies might be powerful, but they cannot shed as much light on the complex interaction between cells and organs as the use of whole animals can‘. It also finds it hard to see how ’in vitro approaches by themselves can supplant the use of nonhuman primates in the evaluation of drug safety‘.

Of course, the editorial recognises that nonhuman primates would not be regarded as the first port of call. In some cases other species such as dogs, ferrets and pigs could be used instead. But similar ethical issues apply in principle to the use of these species as well. There are no easy answers. But the number of nonhuman primates used in research projects is always a very small fraction of the number of people affected by the disease under investigation. Judgements have to be made. It is just a question of getting the balance right.