GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plc is a British based pharmaceutical, biologicals, and healthcare company. The second largest pharmaceutical company in the world, the company had sales of £20.3 billion and made a profit of £6.1 billion in 2004. It employs around 100,000 people worldwide, including over 40,000 in sales and marketing. Its worldwide headquarters is in London, with dual U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia and Research Triangle Park.

Controversy

The company has been targeted by animal rights activists because it is a customer of the controversial animal-testing company, Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). HLS has been the subject since 1999 of an international campaign by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), ever since footage shot covertly by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which was shown on British television, showed staff punching, kicking, screaming and laughing at the animals in their care.

Related Topics:
Animal rights - Huntingdon Life Sciences - Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty - Animal Liberation Front - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

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On September 7, 2005, the ALF detonated a bomb containing two litres of fuel and four pounds of explosives on the doorstop of the Buckinghamshire home of Paul Blackburn, GSK's corporate controller, causing minor damage. An ALF statement left on the animal-rights website Bite Back appeared to warn GSK that there would be further action: "We have identified and tracked down many of your senior executives and also junior staff, as well as those from other HLS customers. Drop HLS or you will face the consequences. For all the animals inside HLS, we will be back." http://www.directaction.info/news_sept26_05.htm http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,1271,-5308648,00.html?gusrc=ticker-103704

Related Topics:
September 7 - 2005 - Buckinghamshire - Bite Back

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