Definition of comparative medicine: History and new identity

Abstract

Most of today's knowledge on molecular mechanisms in mental and physical health and disease is significantly supported by animal studies. Innumerous nutritional and medical products such as vaccines were developed based on animal and human experiments, including heroic self-experiments, and on constant comparison of effects in different species during the history of medicine. The achieved medical standard changed our life expectations significantly by combatting or even eradicating many of previously deathly diseases. Directives for drug development for medical (Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament 2001) and veterinary medicine (Directive 2001/82/EC of the European Parliament 2001) today comprise obligatory proof of concept and toxicity studies using different species of laboratory animals, followed by clinical studies in human or veterinary patients, where in fact the procedures do not differ substantially (Lombard 2007). However, comparative medicine today aims to foster the constant exchange of know-how between human and veterinary medical disciplines and encompasses the treatment of animal patients in clinical studies as a modern means of drug development simultaneously following the 3R rule.