PETA says its protests of medical research involving dogs at Texas A&M won't stop, even after the Food and Drug Administration approved it for human clinical trials.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is caused by a genetic disorder characterized by muscle degeneration and weakness. Solid Biosciences, a Massachusetts-based company, will soon open enrollment for willing participants to test its leading investigational therapy called SGT-001.

Data from research conducted at Texas A&M University complemented the findings that led to the approval from the FDA, according to a news release from Solid Biosciences.

"Just having one of these projects turn into something successful will be radical," said Kristen Cox.

Kristen's son, Kyle, is a 22-year-old senior attending Texas A&M, and was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the age of 7. The fact he's active on-campus is remarkable.

The fact he's still alive is nearly a miracle.

"Doctors said he wouldn't make it past his 20th birthday," said Kristen. "He's exceeded everyone's expectations."

The FDA requires medical research like the work at A&M to be conducted on animals prior to testing on humans. Kyle and his mom, who both reside in College Station, are vocal advocates of the research.

They also volunteer their time to train dogs from the study who are eligible to be adopted out as service dogs for children with DMD through an organization called Homes for Animal Heroes.

"I got two dogs out of the lab, and I see the affection. Immediately the night I brought them home, I saw how much they loved humans," said Kristen. "These are not dogs that have been abused. They are excited to see their caretakers."

“I am proud of this development and of our animal researchers and outstanding faculty and staff who are working to solve the mystery of this dreadful disease,” said Eleanor M. Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M.

“Their ethical care – which includes clear protocol, oversight from multiple governmental agencies and accreditation from organizations such as the AAALAC which focus on the humane care of animals – treats these animals as the heroes that they are in support of finding a cure for this disease that affects humans and dogs alike. That this research has been approved to move to human clinical trials is a sign of hope for all.”

The organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) calls the research unnecessary, cruel and unethical.

"The National Institutes of Health acknowledges that of all drugs that test safe and effective in animals, a whopping 95 percent are found to be either unsafe or ineffective in humans," said Dr. Alka Chandna, PETA's Laboratory Case Management Chief.

"As much as we would like to see the development of a drug that will help humans suffering with muscular dystrophy, given the poor track record of tests on animals to predict human outcomes, it seems highly irresponsible for Texas A&M to be trumpeting the new development with the muscular dystrophy drug—given that the chances of failure are so great," said Dr. Chandna.

PETA says its pleas to have the labs at Texas A&M shut down have fallen on deaf ears, so the disruption of graduations, Board of Regents meetings, and other Aggie-related events will continue.

"We have tried to reach out to A&M. We have to let the university know that we're not going away. Ignoring us is not an adequate response. It's not an appropriate response," said Dr. Chandna.

"There have been many clinical trials over the years – and repeated disappointments for humans suffering from muscular dystrophy," said PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo.

"Thirty-six years of deliberately breeding dogs to have painful and crippling canine muscular dystrophy have failed to yield a cure to the debilitating disease or even a therapy to reverse the disease. Families whose children face Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy deserve more. Better, kinder ways must be used."

Texas A&M has responded to PETA's videos and protests with the following statement:

The facility built for this research is state-of-the-art. Our work is shared not only nationally but globally with the goal of finding a cure for this dreadful disease, DMD, in both children and dogs worldwide. We are proud of our care team, facility and work in support of this endeavor.

KBTX has asked Texas A&M multiple times for access to the research labs that are seen in PETA's video released in 2016 that show the dogs in cages, but the university has declined our requests.