​The orders relate to named individuals and organisations involved in animal rights campaigning to prevent them from harassing the Claimants' employees, families and those associated with them.

"Advances in the development of medicines to benefit millions of patients cannot be done without research involving animals. Those who oppose such work have every right to make their views known but the kind of attacks experienced by some companies and their staff are simply unacceptable in a civilised society," said Dr Trevor Jones, Director General of the ABPI.

Recent harassment targeted at some Japanese pharmaceutical companies and outlined in the High Court has included fire bombings, assaults on staff, intimidatory visits to staff homes, threatening, offensive and malicious letters and telephone calls, and criminal damage to individuals' property.

The claimants who gained the injunction were:

• ACT Tech (UK) Limited
• Asahi Glass Fluoropolymers UK Limited
• Daiichi Pharmaceuticals UK Limited
• Eisai Limited
• F2 Chemicals Limited
• Sankyo Pharma (UK) Limited
• Yamanouchi Pharma Limited

A further hearing is scheduled for early October 2003.

For further information, please contact: ABPI Press Office 020 7747 1410