The November 2025 strategy marked an important milestone. For the first time, senior UK bodies publicly committed to accelerating the replacement of animals in science through New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). That commitment is welcome – yet it is not yet sufficient.Expertise remains critically scarce, cultural resistance is still deeply embedded, and the measures announced are largely confined to early-career training with no binding targets, no financial accountability, and no reversal of the longstanding <1% investment ratio in NAMs.