In drug development, what is a primary function of animal models?

• A. Screening and evaluating new drugs before human trials
• B. Replacing all human trials
• C. Determining drug prices
• D. Marketing the drug

Answer: (A)

Animal models in drug development provide in vivo context that lets researchers screen and evaluate new compounds before human testing. They reveal how a drug behaves in a living organism—how it is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted—and what therapeutic effects or adverse events may occur at plausible dose levels. This helps identify safety concerns, estimate therapeutic potential, and guide dosing strategies and trial design, so only promising candidates move forward to human studies. They are not a replacement for human trials, since animals and people can respond differently and regulatory processes require human data to establish safety and efficacy. They also do not determine drug prices or handle marketing.