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Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry expressed
its best wishes to the Hall family, following the announcement today
that they are to stop the breeding of guinea pigs for life-saving
biomedical research. The principal members of the Hall family are
nearing retirement and the long and sustained campaign of intimidation
by animal rights extremists has led to this "regrettable but
understandable" decision.
"Guinea pigs have provided essential information to support
biomedical research into respiratory disease resulting in real breakthroughs
in the development of new medicines," said Dr Philip Wright,
the ABPI's Director of Science and Technology.
"The activities of a few animal rights extremists have placed
impossible pressure on those going about their legitimate business.
While animal rights extremists are likely to be only one factor
in the final decision, it does underline the need for greater protection
of those individuals and companies targeted and committed long-term
resources from the Government to back up the recently-introduced
legislation."
Guinea pigs are used for a small but important part of world-leading
biomedical research in the UK and the animals from this farm have
a particular role to play in developing new and better treatments
for respiratory diseases, such as asthma. While new technologies
and techniques lead to the replacement of animals in this research,
the use of animals remains essential. The closure of the breeding
facilities makes it less likely that investment in such research
will be made in the UK, which has the tightest regulation and world-leading
standards of animal welfare.
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