In the passage, we are told that companies are working to develop safety tests using human cells, that, if successful, will reduce the need for animal testing.
This clearly indicates that the managers believe that the human cell option is superior to animal testing in some way, and that the improvement is worth the investment in the new test. We dont know in what ways its better- it could be cheaper, it could be better from a PR prospective, or some combination of the two. Regardless, they must view it as net better to use the new human testing.