A Billionaire-Backed Startup Wants to Grow 'Organ Sacks' to Replace Animal Testing

Bay Area startup R3 Bio, backed by Singapore-based longevity fund Immortal Dragons, is developing brainless 'organ sacks' as an ethical alternative to animal testing, starting with monkey versions. The concept gains relevance as the US faces a shortage of research monkeys following China's 2020 export ban and growing government efforts to phase out animal experimentation. R3 Bio's long-term goal is to create human organ sacks that could serve as a source of transplantable organs and tissues.