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Simon Festing claims that if we want new treatments and cures, then animal research is necessary (Soapbox, April 9).

It is impossible to study human diseases in any other species.

Emotive claims of searching for cures is a smokescreen. The ultimate goal of research is drugs. Scientists use animals to test their theories in the hope of developing drugs for their funding source.

Drugs may alleviate, mask or suppress symptoms, but apart from antibiotics (discovered by accident) they do not cure, which ensures a constant demand for "new" or "improved" drugs.

Animals are a legal method of marketing drugs as "scientifically tested".

That correctly prescribed drugs are a major cause of death and that incidence of diseases is rising seriously questions the validity of animal research and testing.

Nick Williams
Hucknall, Nottinghamshire