DECEMBER 2004 NEWS

The Humane Society of the United States' Animal Research News & Analysis

December 2 , 2004

In this Issue

1. HSUS Launches Campaign Against BOTOX® Testing

In October, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) launched a campaign against Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox Cosmetic, over the company’s use of the LD50 Test in the testing of its popular wrinkle treatment. Allergan uses the test to assess the potency of each new batch of the product. The test’s aim is to estimate the dose that kills 50% of the animals tested. When applied to Botox, the LD50 Test is considered to be an indicator of potency. Mice injected with high enough doses become paralyzed and eventually die from asphyxiation, as the paralysis shuts down the breathing apparatus.

The HSUS is calling upon members of the public to contact Allergan and urge the company to accelerate its efforts to develop a non-animal test for assessing Botox potency. The HSUS is also asking the public to contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to urge the agency to work with Allergan to develop an alternative test that is more humane and technologically sophisticated than the much criticized LD50 Test. In addition, The HSUS is asking consumers to reconsider using the product until the company implements a more humane testing standard. The HSUS had sought to work with Allergan on developing alternative methods but its offer was rejected.

Source: HSUS

2. Alleged Animal Welfare Violations at UCSF

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a formal complaint against the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) for scores of alleged Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations that occurred between 2001 and 2003. Some of the alleged violations specified in the complaint include inadequate veterinary care and unsanitary conditions, avoidable pain and distress following surgery, water deprivation of monkeys to the extent of causing weight loss, and excessive breeding of marmosets. The USDA’s complaint also refers to numerous alleged violations involving UCSF’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). These citations include failure to get IACUC approval for various protocols and protocol changes, and failure of the IACUC to perform its duties. UCSF filed a response with the USDA, attempting to defend itself against most of the charges.

UCSF had been sent a Letter of Warning by USDA in 1999 for AWA violations and was fined $2000 for violations that occurred in 2000. UCSF will have to appear before an administrative law judge within USDA. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, a USDA attorney stated that the alleged AWA violations could lead to civil or criminal penalties as well as withdrawal or suspension of its medical research license.

Sources: San Francisco Chronicle, September 15, 2004; USDA’s formal “complaint” against UCSF

3. UK Establishes a National Center on the 3Rs

The United Kingdom government has created a new National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research, also known as the NC3Rs. The Centre, housed within the Medical Research Council, was created in response to the House of Lords Select Committee Report under the Animals in Scientific Procedures Act of 1986. The Centre is seeking to bring together individuals from academia, industry, government, and animal welfare organizations to advance and promote the 3R’s in research and animal testing. The Centre is planning to provide advice and guidance to the scientific community, develop a UK strategy for the implementation of the 3Rs, and work with regulators on gaining acceptance of alternative methods. The Centre will also fund research that advances knowledge in one or more areas of the 3R’s. The next application deadline is January 17, 2005. The Centre’s first year budget is £500k and is expected to increase in future years.

Source: NC3Rs

4. Animal Cruelty Complaints at Holloman Air Force Base

Three animal cruelty complaints were filed by a Judicial District attorney against the managers and veterinarian of the Alamogordo Primate Facility, a laboratory located on the Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The criminal complaint alleges failure to provide necessary veterinary care to three chimpanzees between 2002 and 2003. The chimpanzees each died overnight after being provided veterinary care during the day.

The Alamogordo Primate Facility is owned by the National Institutes of Health and managed by Charles River Laboratories, Inc. Since the chimps are no longer used for research at that facility and the Animal Welfare Act does not apply, the district attorney became involved. Each misdemeanor animal cruelty charge carries maximum penalties of 364 days in prison and $1000 fines.

Source: Alamogordo News, September 11, 2004.

5. Singapore Adopts National Guidelines on Animal Research

As of November 15, 2004, research institutions in Singapore are required to follow new guidelines on the use and care of research animals. The guidelines are meant to improve and standardize the treatment of research animals within Singapore, where previously, research institutions followed their own standards for the use of research animals. The new guidelines were developed by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) in conjunction with many groups, including research and educational institutes and animal protection organizations. They were modeled after regulations existing in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Violations of the new guidelines could result in up to a year in prison and fines of 10,000 Singapore dollars (5,900 US).

With the new regulations in effect, research institutions seeking approval to begin animal research will first have to pass AVA inspections to ensure they conform to the animal use guidelines. Existing institutions will have up to 18 months to fully comply and must create an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee responsible for maintaining adherence to the new regulations. Training on the proper care, handling, and housing of lab animals will also be required for all staff and animal handlers within research institutions.

Source: Channel News Asia, October 29, 2004

Animal Research News & Analysisis an electronic newsletter that provides up-to-date news stories and interpretive analyses concerning the use of animals in research, testing, and education. The newsletter is produced by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and is distributed periodically. It serves as a source for information and is not a discussion list, so please do not reply to this message. Any questions or comments should be directed to the e-mail address listed below. To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail request to ari@hsus.org with the words, "unsubscribe - Animal Research News" in the subject line; please specify your first and last name. The HSUS's collection of web-based animal research-related news stories can be viewed at: http://www.hsus.org/ace/712.

Animal Research Issues, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) (301) 258-3041.