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GSK's Garnier defies animal rights activists

17/05/2006

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) gave a firm indication of its intention to remain in Britain today, despite recent threats from animal rights protesters, by extending the tenure of its chief executive, Jean-Paul Garnier.

Dr Garnier, who first became chief executive when Glaxo Wellcome merged with SmithKline Beecham in 2000, said the group would maintain its presence in the UK at a speech to the company's AGM.

His decision to stay until May 2008, six months longer than was previously expected, has been interpreted as a firm rebuttal to speculation that the group might follow the suit of smaller companies who have left Britain following persecution from animal rights activists.

"I believe that the next two years will see further confirmation of GSK’s strong and innovative pipeline, with many significant filings and launches of new medicines and vaccines," Dr Garnier said.

"I am proud to have the opportunity to continue leading GSK through this very important period."

Dr Garnier's decision means the swathes of malicious phone calls and hate mail, both of which have included death threats, are likely to continue.

Last week GSK's shareholders received letters warning that their personal details would be published on a website if they did not immediately sell their shares, an attempt to undermine the drugs group described by GSK as "corporate terrorism".

Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), believed to have motivated the threats, has been the subject of continued controversy since its activities first came to the attention of animal rights protesters in 1998.

HLS' practices - which involve testing pharmaceutical products on animals to establish their safety, effectiveness and commercial viability – have been the subject of repeated inquiries from government bodies, none of which have been critical.

Animal rights organisation Animal Aid claims that around 3 million animals are experimented on every year in the UK.

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