Tests on dogs in the Aptuit laboratories in Verona must be suspended. This was decided by the TAR of Lazio, which accepted the precautionary request presented by the LAV – Anti Vivisection League as part of an appeal against the authorization for the trial.
The provision concerns the telemetry experiments on dogs conducted by the multinational pharmaceutical company at its Verona headquarters and represents, according to the animal rights association, an important step in the debate on animal testing.
The decision came after the hearing on March 10, 2026, during which the administrative judges examined the request to immediately suspend activities.
“Animal suffering prevails”
In the suspension provision, the TAR highlighted how in balancing the interests at stake, the damage caused to animals must be considered a priority.
According to the judges, in fact, the pain, suffering and damage to the health of the animals involved in the experimentation are “ontologically irreparable“and prevail over the continuity of a research activity that has continued for years. For this reason the experiments will remain suspended until verification of the conformity of the procedures with current legislation.
The administrative court will also rely on the support of independent experts to evaluate how the experiments are conducted within the facility. The next hearing on the merits has been set for September 22, 2026.
At the center of the appeal presented by LAV are procedures considered highly invasive. According to what was reported by the association, the dogs used in the tests are subjected to surgical interventions to implant probes with electrodes and catheters inside the body, instruments used to monitor physiological parameters such as:
These are procedures that involve surgical operations, possible post-operative complications and severe stress for the animals, as well as remaining in conditions of confinement within laboratories.
LAV’s appeal to stop the trials
Precisely to prevent other animals from being subjected to these procedures, LAV had asked the administrative judge for an immediate precautionary suspension of the authorization issued by the Ministry of Health.
The objective was to block the experiments at least until the legitimacy of the authorization process was verified.
“A further milestone for research was taken by the TAR of Lazio which confirms what we have been saying for years: no more vivisection”, commented Michela Kuan, biologist and scientific consultant of the animal-free research area of the LAV.
According to Kuan, other research is possible, capable of advancing scientifically without resorting to animal testing.
The precedents in the Aptuit laboratories
The story is part of a history already marked by controversy. In the past, in fact, investigations and judicial proceedings had involved the Aptuit laboratories, leading to the seizure and release of over 50 dogs, recovered thanks to the intervention of the LAV.
Precisely these precedents have strengthened the concerns of the association and the request to temporarily stop the activities. For now, therefore, the tests will remain suspended pending the final decision of the TAR, which will have to establish whether the authorization issued complies with the legislation and whether the testing methods respect the protections provided for animals used in research.
