[Primates in studies on the safety of drugs].

Primates are more and more frequently used in the evaluation of the safety aspects of drugs. Because of their similar phylogenic profile, these animals appear to be more predictive than other species (rat, mouse, rabbit or dog) used in toxicological studies. This relationship is confirmed by anatomical, metabolic and physiological observations. Primates are rarely used in teratogenesis studies, because the methods and materials involved are too complex. However, even in these studies, primates appear to be the most predictive species.