Connect with us

News

‘As a dog owner myself it is hard to see dogs whose lives will end in the process of drug development’

‘I do not support animal testing and made that position clear’

Avatar photo

Published

on

Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty has released a statement following his visit to LabCorp in Alconbury an animal testing laboratory which has been involved in animal rights protests, the most recent in February of this year. Camp Beagle at Wyton claims LabCorp “is one of the final destinations for MBR Acres Beagles and endangered Macaque Monkeys – all animals that enter LabCorp will never come out alive”.

Here is the full statement from Mr Obese-Jecty following his visit – which has attracted 150 comments on his Facebook page where he first posted his statement. Many of those comments claim there are viable alternatives to animal testing.

“And even if there isn’t, we must do the right things for the right reasons; In no sane mind is this the right thing to do,” says one comment. “Advances in science have made it so we can now test on lab grown human cells and tissues.”

Statement from Mr Obese- Jecty

On Tuesday I visited LabCorp in Huntingdon. It was a difficult visit and, to be honest and open, not one I have been looking forward to. But I believe that as the local MP it is critical that I have a full understanding of all aspects of the constituency and given the emotive and highly charged issues arising around the topic of animal-testing it is one that offered a crucial opportunity to put local concerns to senior leaders there.

As the third biggest pharmaceutical company in the UK it is a significant benefit to our local economy to have LabCorp based here.

We discussed a number of issues including their award-winning apprenticeships programme and the prospect of attending my Huntingdon Jobs Fair early next year; I have long maintained that good local jobs are vital to Huntingdon’s future.

We also discussed local issues such as a lack of grid space which potentially restricts the amount of power available to the site and also access to public transport, with a bus service possibly needed for the site, an issue I will look to factor in to my ongoing discussions with the Combined Authority Mayor.

As part of the visit I also undertook a tour of the animal facilities; minipigs, dogs and primates.

I freely admit that it was something I found difficult. As a dog owner myself it is hard to see dogs whose lives will end in the process of drug development, even if it is an international regulatory obligation.

For example, without them we wouldn’t have had a vaccine for Coronavirus.

Advertisements
canopyuk.com in-article

I was fortunate enough to have a frank discussion with LabCorp’s senior leadership about the pathway to progression towards Non-Animal Methods, in order to reduce and eventually phase-out pre-clinical animal testing.

We also discussed how there may be an opportunity to be more open regarding how the trial process works and why animals are required at all, dispelling some of the myths around what takes place and making clear how the stringent standards that govern the process are adhered to.

I do not support animal testing and made that position clear.

However, without a viable non-animal alternative across all testing we cannot transition away from their current use.

I know that LabCorp are committed to working towards the wider roll-out of non-animal methods, but in order to realise this it will need to be driven by Government and the Regulator in order to define an internationally harmonised framework.

This cannot be achieved by LabCorp in isolation.

As such, having pledged in their manifesto to work towards phasing out animal testing, this week I will write to the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord Vallance, to clarify what steps the Government is taking to fulfil this pledge.

It will take significant funding to deliver, and I hope that the Government will be willing to commit investment in their own manifesto pledge.

My thanks to the team at LabCorp for a highly informative and candid discussion this afternoon and I look forward to supporting their efforts in pursuing non-animal methods in order to provide better clinical outcomes and the phase-out of animal test subjects.

(Ben Obese-Jecty is the Conservative MP for Huntingdon)

 

Facebook

Read More

Highways issues appear to have been the major stumbling block for McDonald’s who have now been told Fenland Council has removed its 2019 planning application for a new drive-thru in March, Cambridgeshire. Highways issues appear to have been the major stumbling block for McDonald’s who have now been told Fenland Council has removed its 2019 planning application for a new drive-thru in March, Cambridgeshire.
News15 mins ago

McDonald’s forced to pull the plug on new restaurant and drive-thru in Fenland town

McDonald's applied in 2019 to build March restaurant

Wisbech and Fenland Museum Wisbech and Fenland Museum
News21 hours ago

Councillor wants full funding restored to Wisbech and Fenland museum

Museum rejects 'full partnership' with town council

Martin Purbrick: ‘Placements out of county and in unregistered settings often offer little stability for children and young people, and they are unable to sustain connections with family, friends, and the local community’ Martin Purbrick: ‘Placements out of county and in unregistered settings often offer little stability for children and young people, and they are unable to sustain connections with family, friends, and the local community’
News2 days ago

Cambridgeshire County Council to turn redundant farmhouses into children’s care homes

Both houses are unoccupied following farm amalgamation

Former Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor James Palmer: ‘In short, what we have in the UK, certainly England, is a devolution sham’ PHOTO: Terry Harris Former Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor James Palmer: ‘In short, what we have in the UK, certainly England, is a devolution sham’ PHOTO: Terry Harris
News3 days ago

Norfolk/Suffolk lose out in deal former Cambs Mayor James Palmer called ‘puppet devolution’

'What we have in the UK, certainly England, is a devolution sham'

Pizza Parlour in Cowgate closes with immediate effect. Owner Peter Fierro made the announcement today. Pizza Parlour in Cowgate closes with immediate effect. Owner Peter Fierro made the announcement today.
News3 days ago

Restaurateur Peter Fierro bombshell closure shock of Peterborough pizza parlour

Customers take to social media to express disappointment

Pip Gardner from The Kite Trust (R) is pictured with Harriet from East Cambs CSP and representatives of East Cambs Police Pip Gardner from The Kite Trust (R) is pictured with Harriet from East Cambs CSP and representatives of East Cambs Police
News3 days ago

LGBTQ+ Kite Trust in Ely to become key centre for reporting hate crimes

'Hate crimes often start off small and escalate'

Long-serving nurse Mary Donaldson has retired after 41 years full-time service at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. Pictured with the late Queen and Prince Philip at the former Edith Cavell Hospital in 1998 Long-serving nurse Mary Donaldson has retired after 41 years full-time service at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. Pictured with the late Queen and Prince Philip at the former Edith Cavell Hospital in 1998
News3 days ago

Magnificent Mary – 41 years of devotion and dedication to the NHS

Nurse Mary Donaldson has retired after 41 years

Custody photos of David Rosa (left) and Lemar Griffiths with drugs seized upon Griffiths’ arrest. Image: Cambridgeshire police Custody photos of David Rosa (left) and Lemar Griffiths with drugs seized upon Griffiths’ arrest. Image: Cambridgeshire police
News3 days ago

Dealers use boy with ‘vulnerabilities’ in London and Peterborough county drugs line

Two men use child in the supply of class A drugs

Cllr Martin Field, chairman of NE Cambs Labour Party, said: ‘The Conservatives left Britain broke and broken, but here in Fenland the new Labour government is already taking action to fix the foundations of our country and get Britain moving again’ Cllr Martin Field, chairman of NE Cambs Labour Party, said: ‘The Conservatives left Britain broke and broken, but here in Fenland the new Labour government is already taking action to fix the foundations of our country and get Britain moving again’
News3 days ago

Number of children in Fenland living in poverty ‘rose each year under Conservatives’

Labour announced £421m extension to the Household Support Scheme

The application site has been in separated ownership to No. 9 Stretham Road, Wicken, and has not provided employment for over six years. The B8 storage use is restricted by a planning condition to the occupiers of No. 9 Stretham Road. The application site has been in separated ownership to No. 9 Stretham Road, Wicken, and has not provided employment for over six years. The B8 storage use is restricted by a planning condition to the occupiers of No. 9 Stretham Road.
News4 days ago

4 houses opposed by East Cambs councillors and parish council win approval on appeal

Wicken Parish Council opposed the application