May 8, 2006

scientific community react angrily to threats made to GlaxoSmithKline shareholders

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) seeks an emergency injunction against animal rights extremists who sent threatening letters to the drug group’s investors and threatened to publish personal details of their investors on the internet.

Dr Simon Festing, Director of RDS (Research Defence Society), said:

“Once again animal rights extremists are targeting individuals to try to force legitimate companies out of business. These bully-boy tactics are unacceptable, undemocratic and illegal. Most reasonable people accept that humanely conducted animal research is essential to find treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS, cancers and other serious diseases.”

Jo Tanner, Chief Executive of the Coalition for Medical Progress (CMP), said:

“This is yet another example of the harassment and intimidation that animal extremists employ all too often. Our research shows that most people deplore this sort of behaviour and accept that a small amount of animal research is still necessary to discover new medicines and treatments. Just last month, we launched our People’s Petition (www.thepeoplespetition.org.uk), which gives people the opportunity, in confidence, not only to support such research but to support those involved in it. More than 13,000 people have already signed that Petition and I would urge anyone who abhores this sort of extremist behaviour to do the same.”

A spokesperson from The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said:

“This letter is the latest attempt by a tiny number of extremists to force their views on to the majority through coercion. The general public is becoming increasingly vocal in standing up to such extremist tactics – as shown by the recent Pro-Test movement in Oxford. Threatening thousands of shareholders is no way to promote your views in a democratic society.”

A vet at Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), said:

“We have an absolute duty to do animal research in an ethical and responsible way and that’s why I am directly involved in providing first class care and welfare at Huntingdon Life Sciences to ensure that is always the case.”

Aisling Burnand, Chief Executive of the BioIndustry Association (BIA), , said:

“If we want innovative new medicines for diseases such as cancer, AIDS and avian flu, a limited amount of animal reserach is required and mandated by Government. Intimidation of this kind is not only unacceptable, but also risks denying patients access to potentially life-saving treatments.”