Originally published April 14 2005
Drug research declines in Britain; animal rights activists blamed
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Spending on pharmaceutical research in the United Kingdom dropped from 3.3 billion to 3.2 billion pounds between 2002 and 2003, the first time in many years that investment has declined. The president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, a trade association, said that continuing threats by animal rights extremists were a contributing factor in the decline. Incidents of damage to a company or to personal property by extremists were up 18 percent in 2004, and abusive messages via telephone or text almost tripled. The number of demonstrations or visits to employees' homes dropped, however. Countries are increasingly competing to have pharmaceutical research done in their territories.
Animal rights activists are to blame for falling research and development budgets for new drugs in Britain, the pharmaceutical industry claimed yesterday.
Spending on research fell by �100m between 2002 and 2003, according to new figures from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
"It is clear that the continuing threat posed by animal extremists is a contributory factor," said Vincent Lawton, the president of the trade association and an executive at the American drugs firm Merck.
"I hope that these figures indicate just a temporary blip but the dangers of the UK losing out to other countries are very real."
The association said the number of incidents of damage to a company or personal property by animal rights extremists had increased by 18% in 2004 and abusive phone calls or texts increased almost three-fold.
However, the number of demonstrations and visits to employees' homes had fallen.
Drug firms spent �3.2bn on research and develop ment in Britain in 2003, compared to �3.3bn the year before.
The association said it was the first time for "many years" that investment had declined.
The association also hit back at a report from MPs that accused the industry of having too much influence on the health service and encouraging a culture of a "pill for every ill".
Prof Lawton said that there was no "intensive marketing" to doctors nor a vast consumption of drugs, when compared with Europe.
The association also criticised a 7% price cut imposed on branded drugs by the Department of Health.
Countries such as China, India and Singapore are increasingly trying to tempt pharmaceutical companies to move their research to their shores.
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