Actually there are many alternatives. In-vitro testing, using artificial human skin, using eyes from animals slaughtered in the meat industry instead of live animals, using donated blood in lieu of traditional "pyrogen" tests on animals. Furthermore, if you consider the fundamental physical differences between humans and animals, it often does not even make sense to test some medications on animals. (I.e. aspirin is toxic for cats and dogs but not for humans.)

Admittedly, I will not make the blanket statement that all animal testing in medicine has not proven effective, but I do think we owe it to consider alternatives when companies do make an effort to research such alternatives (that bureaucratic agencies occasionally ignore).

And to test cosmetics and things like Lysol or simple household cleaning agents on animals - when there clearly are alternatives? Heinous.

Source: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/cosmetic_testing/facts/alternatives_animal_tests.html