AstraZeneca:
Please set the Beagles free!
INTRODUCTION:
AstraZeneca plc is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's fifth-largest pharmaceutical company measured by 2009 prescription drug sales (after Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi, and GlaxoSmithKline) and has operations in over 100 countries. It has a portfolio of products for major disease areas including cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infection, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation.
Astra AB was founded in 1913 in Södertälje, Sweden, by 400 doctors and apothecaries. In 1993 the British chemicals company ICI demerged its pharmaceuticals businesses and its agrochemicals and specialties businesses, to form Zeneca Group plc, and in 1999 Astra and Zeneca Group merged to form AstraZeneca plc.
In 2005 the company announced that it had become a Diamond Member of the Pennsylvania Bio commerce organisation.It also decided to acquire KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, a UK biotech company, for £120m and entered into an anti-cancer collaboration agreement with Astex.
In 2006, following a collaborative relationship begun in 2004, AstraZeneca acquired Cambridge Antibody Technology for £702 million.
In February 2007 AstraZeneca agreed to buy Arrow Therapeutics, a company focused on the discovery and development of anti-viral therapies, for $150 million.
In 2011 AstraZeneca acquired Guangdong BeiKang Pharmaceutical Company, a Chinese generics business.
In February 2012 AstraZeneca and Amgen announced collaboration on treatments for inflammatory diseases.Then in April 2012, AstraZeneca acquired Ardea Biosciences, another biotechnology company, for $1.26 billion.
In February 2012, Swedish newspapers announced that Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca is closing its research facilities in Södertälje, south of Stockholm, as part of a major restructuring, resulting in the loss of around 1,000 Swedish jobs. Over the past two years, the big pharmaceutical giant divested much of its operations in Sweden and this has also affected their laboratory facilities and experimental animal activities.
In June 2012 AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced a two-stage deal for the joint acquisition of the biotechnology company Amylin Pharmaceuticals. It was agreed that Bristol-Myers Squibb would acquire Amylin for $5.3 billion in cash and the assumption of $1.7 billion in debt, with AstraZeneca then paying $3.4 billion in cash to Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Amylin being folded into an existing diabetes joint-venture between AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Experiments conducted on animals:
Like every pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca conducts experiments on animals. According to AstraZeneca's own website, in 2011 AstraZeneca has used approximately 398,000 animals, including those used by external contract research organisations on their behalf. Approximately 76% (302,480) were rodents, 22% (87,560) were fish and the remaining 2% (7,960) included chickens, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, primates, pigs, goats and sheep.
In 2010, AstraZeneca "used" 429,000 animals and in 2009, 410,000 animals were "used" for the purpose of testings and experiments.
Låt Astrahundarna leva!
The following information has been taken from the website of the campaign "Låt Astrahundarna leva!" or "Let Astra-dogs live":
2012-12-27 11:11
Animal Rights Alliance wants to save the experimental dogs that are threatened of killing.
Over the past two years, the big pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca divested much of its operations in Sweden.This has also affected their laboratory facilities and experimental animal activities. This means that the use of experimental dogs should have ended at AstraZeneca in Sweden. The animals that were left when the decision to close down the business was taken, should now be either killed or returned to AstraZeneca's kennel outside Örkelljunga. The kennel has a permit to annually raise around 500 dogs for the purpose of animal testing.
According to AstraZeneca, this kennel settled, but according to recent documentation from the Animal Rights Alliance, the kennel is still active. Behind the grids are living a large number of beagles whose future is uncertain.
- We wonder what will happen to bthe Bealges in AstraZeneca's kennel. Lots of animal lovers with great knowledge about the dogs have been in touch to offer them loving homes, but AstraZeneca consistently refuses to give the dogs a chance for a new life, says Andrea Gunnarson, spokesperson for Animal Rights Alliance Campaign Let Astra dogs Live.
- We want to provide loving homes as an alternative to AstraZeneca's planned mass killing, says Andrea Gunnarson, spokesperson for Djurrättsallisansens campaign Let Astra dogs Live.
There are two possible scenarios for what AstraZeneca will do with the dogs. Either they will be sold to painful animal experiments abroad or they will be killed, as data from Astra itself maintains. Given the large number of dogs currently held in Rååhöjdens kennel outside Örkelljunga, would the latter entail a brutal mass killing of innocent and sentient beings - of those dogs that not once throughout their lives have experienced the joys of having a beloved family, something other dogs get to experience every day.
- Thanks to AstraZeneca these dogs are born into a life of over stimulation, abuse and exploitation. When Astra now has the chance to give the dogs all the things that they have hitherto been deprived of, the pharmaceutical giant refuses to release the dogs to the skilled and dedicated animal lovers. In return for the dogs' involuntary service in AstraZeneca laboratories and breeding facility, Astra has only one to offer them: death or continued suffering, says Andrea Gunnarson, spokesperson for Animal Rights Alliance, newly started campaign: Let Astra dogs live.
Animal Rights Alliance has since AstraZeneca announced its decision to close its laboratory facilities offered to take care of the animals who have been affected. But Astra's interest in cooperation is nonexistent.
- We want to know what the future is that awaits the dogs in AstraZeneca's kennel in Örkelljunga and we want to know why AstraZeneca did not want to relocate them to loving homes. But above all, we want these dogs to eventually get a second chance on the other side of AstraZeneca grid. We will do everything in our power to make it a reality!
Contact Animal Rights Alliance for more information:
Andrea Gunnarson, spokesperson for the campaign Let Astra dogs Live.
Phone: 0709-987457
E-mail:info@djurrattsalliansen.se
UPDATE:
28th of December, 2012: AstraZeneca denies that they are planning a mass killing and says that they plan to send the dogs to their laboratories in the UK for further painful experiments - a fate that is in fact worse than death!
2012-12-27 11:11
Animal Rights Alliance wants to save the experimental dogs that are threatened of killing.
Over the past two years, the big pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca divested much of its operations in Sweden.This has also affected their laboratory facilities and experimental animal activities. This means that the use of experimental dogs should have ended at AstraZeneca in Sweden. The animals that were left when the decision to close down the business was taken, should now be either killed or returned to AstraZeneca's kennel outside Örkelljunga. The kennel has a permit to annually raise around 500 dogs for the purpose of animal testing.
According to AstraZeneca, this kennel settled, but according to recent documentation from the Animal Rights Alliance, the kennel is still active. Behind the grids are living a large number of beagles whose future is uncertain.
- We wonder what will happen to bthe Bealges in AstraZeneca's kennel. Lots of animal lovers with great knowledge about the dogs have been in touch to offer them loving homes, but AstraZeneca consistently refuses to give the dogs a chance for a new life, says Andrea Gunnarson, spokesperson for Animal Rights Alliance Campaign Let Astra dogs Live.
- We want to provide loving homes as an alternative to AstraZeneca's planned mass killing, says Andrea Gunnarson, spokesperson for Djurrättsallisansens campaign Let Astra dogs Live.
There are two possible scenarios for what AstraZeneca will do with the dogs. Either they will be sold to painful animal experiments abroad or they will be killed, as data from Astra itself maintains. Given the large number of dogs currently held in Rååhöjdens kennel outside Örkelljunga, would the latter entail a brutal mass killing of innocent and sentient beings - of those dogs that not once throughout their lives have experienced the joys of having a beloved family, something other dogs get to experience every day.
- Thanks to AstraZeneca these dogs are born into a life of over stimulation, abuse and exploitation. When Astra now has the chance to give the dogs all the things that they have hitherto been deprived of, the pharmaceutical giant refuses to release the dogs to the skilled and dedicated animal lovers. In return for the dogs' involuntary service in AstraZeneca laboratories and breeding facility, Astra has only one to offer them: death or continued suffering, says Andrea Gunnarson, spokesperson for Animal Rights Alliance, newly started campaign: Let Astra dogs live.
Animal Rights Alliance has since AstraZeneca announced its decision to close its laboratory facilities offered to take care of the animals who have been affected. But Astra's interest in cooperation is nonexistent.
- We want to know what the future is that awaits the dogs in AstraZeneca's kennel in Örkelljunga and we want to know why AstraZeneca did not want to relocate them to loving homes. But above all, we want these dogs to eventually get a second chance on the other side of AstraZeneca grid. We will do everything in our power to make it a reality!
Contact Animal Rights Alliance for more information:
Andrea Gunnarson, spokesperson for the campaign Let Astra dogs Live.
Phone: 0709-987457
E-mail:info@djurrattsalliansen.se
UPDATE:
28th of December, 2012: AstraZeneca denies that they are planning a mass killing and says that they plan to send the dogs to their laboratories in the UK for further painful experiments - a fate that is in fact worse than death!
Pictures taken by Animal Rights Alliance (Djurrättsalliansen) December 2012 - Please click on the picture to enlarge!
Articles published in the Swedish news
Read the article published by Fria Tidningen, in Swedish, or in English
and another article by svt Nyheter, in Swedish, or in English
The petition
to AstraZeneca
By signing our petition directly at change.org by hitting the big button (petition-page opens in a new tab)
the message below will be sent instantly to AstraZeneca in Sweden
the message below will be sent instantly to AstraZeneca in Sweden
Subject: please set the Beagles free!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
we have learned from the Swedish organisation Animal Rights Alliance, through their campaign "Låt Astrahundarna leva!" that the future of the experimental dogs that are currently still being held in your kennel in Rååhöjdens, outside Örkelljunga, is uncertain, given that you have consistently refused to give the dogs a chance of a new life by releasing them into the care of skilled and engaged people who have offered to adopt them.
We have also learned that - after reconsideration - you have scrapped your plans to kill these unfortunate dogs who were born into a life of over-stimulation, abuse and exploitation, and that you intend to sell them to painful animal experiments in the UK instead.
We beg you to give these dogs THE chance of their life. Please set them free and give them in the care of the good people who have offered to adopt them so that they can experience the joy of having a loving family - something they have been deprived of their entire life.
Although unwillingly, these poor unfortunate souls have served you loyally until now. Please have mercy on them and set them free. They have suffered enough in your laboratories at the hands of your scientists; please let them live out the rest of their lives in peace, surrounded by the love of the caring families that await them.
The world is watching and is following your company's decision in this matter. Please make the humane choice and show the world that you are capable of compassion, too.
We thank you very much in advance and we wish you, your loved ones, and the entire staff at AstraZeneca a very happy New Year.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
MORE ACTIONS
that you can take to help the Beagles:
In addition to signing the petition, you can also send a personal, polite message to AstraZeneca, at the following addresses:
kontakt@astrazeneca.com, IR@astrazeneca.com
and/or call AstraZeneca, asking that the dogs be released, and not sent to vivisection for further painful experiments.
Phone numbers:
+46 8 553 260 00
+46 8 553 260 20
Thank you!
Demonstration
planned for Saturday, January 5, 2013
Organised by: Animal Rights Alliance (Djurrättsalliansen)
Location: Västrarp 108, 28691 Örkelljunga
Time: 14:00 - 16:00
Facebook-event-page
Swedish animal lovers and activists, please join the demonstration! You will find all information in the following FB-event-page.
For more pictures, please click HERE!
Send your pictures pleading to save the beagles to kontakt@astrazeneca.com
You can also send a copy to
info@djurrattsalliansen.se
if you want your picture to be displayed
Very sad news!
Astra Zeneca has sent some of the Beagles
to one of their laboratories in the UK
February 27, 2013 - Astra Zeneca has sent some of the Beagles to one of their laboratories in the UK yesterday night.
Activists from Djurrättsalliansen have tried to stop the transport, but to no avail.
Below the next video you can read the message that has been shared by Djurrättsalliansen today (translated into English by Google) including their plea to speak up for the Beagles that remain in Astra Zeneca's kennel in Örkelljunga.
Please TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Last night got our activists who attended Rååhöjdens kennel ensure that AstraZeneca planned a new transport and also the deportation of dogs. Animal Rights Alliance mobilized as quickly as we could a group of animal friends with a single purpose: to stop the transportation of dogs. Having first established that the shipment has not went to Ängelholm previously we could follow it to Sturup airport outside Malmö.
The dogs were transported in two vehicles and arrived at the airport escorted by police and security companies. Animal Rights Alliance tried to stop the car rampage by physically blocking them. Activists put in front of the vehicles and the cars. Because the number of police officers exceeded the 30 or so activists on the ground failed unfortunately to get them to turn back and got rather see them go by and disappear against the aircraft area.
One activist was arrested in the scuffle and was taken by police to Malmö for questioning. He was released after a few hours.
Hoping to bring empathy among all personnel involved in the airport, and to bring the idea of how courage can be overturned an evil plan, continued activists shout slogans and exhortations to halt the planned exports.
With despair but unfailing hope of rescue dogs, we saw how the dog crates were loaded aboard two transport aircraft. We could hear the dogs whimpering and barking from their cages and their vocalizations testified anxiety, terror and fear.
When we finally saw the pilots arrive at the aircraft, the stairs are rolled away and the doors to the plan off the tears started to fall down our cheeks. The scrapes we felt against our cheeks after being dragged on the asphalt, the pain we felt in the arms after police locked them firmly, the pain was nothing compared to the desperate sadness we feel in our hearts at the moment the plan's engines began to hum and ground staff gave the green light for them to lift.
In an instant, the plan was up in the air and the sparkle of hope in the dogs was forever extinguished. At AstraZeneca, with all the other staff and by all other parties who helped to realize this exports, echoing a big void where empathy, warmth and respect would otherwise have taken root.
AstraZeneca has had several chances to let these dogs meet spring in loving foster homes. They've had a chance to act on morality, empathy and solidarity with the sentient, innocent creatures. Instead, they have done everything in their power to ensure that these dogs are forced to undergo painful experiments on the way to certain death.
We encourage everyone today to contact Malmö Sturup airport and ask them to reject these shipments and refuse to send the dogs to death.
Phone: 010-109 01 00 (International: +46 10 109 01 00)
Email: info@malmoairport.se
We ask you to also call the AstraZeneca Board and appeal for the dogs that are left at the kennel in Örkelljunga.
President Anders Ekblom, AstraZeneca AB
Jan-Olof Jacke VP Finance, R & D
Anders Vikdahl Head of Sweden Operations
Steinar Höeg External Affairs Director Europe
John Linde Deputy General Counsel, R & D, the Secretary
Tel: 08-553260 00
Let Astra dogs live!
LIKE Animal Rights Alliance on Facebook to learn more and stay updated on Astra Canine fate: www.facebook.com / Animals Knob Alliance
The dogs were transported in two vehicles and arrived at the airport escorted by police and security companies. Animal Rights Alliance tried to stop the car rampage by physically blocking them. Activists put in front of the vehicles and the cars. Because the number of police officers exceeded the 30 or so activists on the ground failed unfortunately to get them to turn back and got rather see them go by and disappear against the aircraft area.
One activist was arrested in the scuffle and was taken by police to Malmö for questioning. He was released after a few hours.
Hoping to bring empathy among all personnel involved in the airport, and to bring the idea of how courage can be overturned an evil plan, continued activists shout slogans and exhortations to halt the planned exports.
With despair but unfailing hope of rescue dogs, we saw how the dog crates were loaded aboard two transport aircraft. We could hear the dogs whimpering and barking from their cages and their vocalizations testified anxiety, terror and fear.
When we finally saw the pilots arrive at the aircraft, the stairs are rolled away and the doors to the plan off the tears started to fall down our cheeks. The scrapes we felt against our cheeks after being dragged on the asphalt, the pain we felt in the arms after police locked them firmly, the pain was nothing compared to the desperate sadness we feel in our hearts at the moment the plan's engines began to hum and ground staff gave the green light for them to lift.
In an instant, the plan was up in the air and the sparkle of hope in the dogs was forever extinguished. At AstraZeneca, with all the other staff and by all other parties who helped to realize this exports, echoing a big void where empathy, warmth and respect would otherwise have taken root.
AstraZeneca has had several chances to let these dogs meet spring in loving foster homes. They've had a chance to act on morality, empathy and solidarity with the sentient, innocent creatures. Instead, they have done everything in their power to ensure that these dogs are forced to undergo painful experiments on the way to certain death.
We encourage everyone today to contact Malmö Sturup airport and ask them to reject these shipments and refuse to send the dogs to death.
Phone: 010-109 01 00 (International: +46 10 109 01 00)
Email: info@malmoairport.se
We ask you to also call the AstraZeneca Board and appeal for the dogs that are left at the kennel in Örkelljunga.
President Anders Ekblom, AstraZeneca AB
Jan-Olof Jacke VP Finance, R & D
Anders Vikdahl Head of Sweden Operations
Steinar Höeg External Affairs Director Europe
John Linde Deputy General Counsel, R & D, the Secretary
Tel: 08-553260 00
Let Astra dogs live!
LIKE Animal Rights Alliance on Facebook to learn more and stay updated on Astra Canine fate: www.facebook.com / Animals Knob Alliance
February 28, 2013
Astra Zeneca has sent some more dogs to death yesterday night
The following is the message that Djurrättsalliansen has posted this morning (translated into English by Google):
Yesterday we received reports that something was going on at the AstraZeneca breeding of dogs outside Örkelljunga. After a hard fight the night before were mobilized activists from across Skåne and went to the kennel with intentions to stop new shipments of dogs to animal testing. When evening came, the police presence high and they tried several times to get people to remove themselves from the site. Firstly, by establishing a PL24-zone and by pushing away or drag away people who came too close to the gate and transport. The Police Act § 24 gives the police the opportunity to cordon off an area if they fear disruption of public order or security. The trucks, both foreign-registered, drove for a while in the kennel during the escort of police officers in dark civilian cars and shortly thereafter two activists locked themselves in the gate, one with a bicycle lock around his neck and the other with a powerful motor bicycle around the stomach.
More and more people flocked to, and in the end nearly three animal friends gathered at the gates. The police, however, was determined to carry out the shipment no matter what, and used force to free the activists who blocked the gate. With an angle grinder cut the locks and pried and pulled away the activists to leave the road for the trucks. The emotions were very upset and group screamed and tried to get the police to use the heart and refuse to participate in the transport. Inside the fence, in the dark, heard the dogs desperate to be.
After a while, the police had managed to push aside all the outraged people and two trucks rolled out in loud cries. The tumult was arrested a person who allegedly first flat tire on a truck but was later released on suspicion of disobedience to the police.
Police escorted transportation from the kennel and up on the highway, they stopped all traffic for trucks would get a head start. Once they arrived at Sturup airport expecting a massive police posse and another bunch of animal friends there. In order to avoid new confrontations were the dogs most likely on a backdoor at the airport and were loaded in silence on the pitch for England. The thick fog made visibility was very poor throughout the evening. After a few hours of calm at Sturup airport left most cold and went home to rest before the next action.
Some enthusiasts, however remained at Sturup or went to the kennels during the night could not confirm that yet another shipment has traveled around 2:30 o'clock. It is with great sadness we think of all the dogs sent to death. We all work on a voluntary basis and try to be there as much as we can to fight for the dogs, but today, after a really hard fight the night before in the trunk, we could not stop AstraZeneca death transports. We know that we are fighting an uphill and into the wind, AstraZeneca has all the money in the world and is willing to do almost anything to get off the dogs to their attempts. We still hope that the dogs will come out, but above all, we are not going to sit there and be ashamed that we did not do everything in our power to save their lives.
We will during the day to do what we can to confirm how many dogs are left in Örkelljunga. We ask you to put negative thoughts aside and not get caught up in thoughts of what will now happen to the deportees dogs and instead focus on those that are left at the kennel, and do all you can for them to be rescued!
►► Today we ask you all to call the AstraZeneca board and appeal for the dogs that are left at the kennel in Örkelljunga.
President Anders Ekblom, AstraZeneca AB
Jan-Olof Jacke VP Finance, R & D
Anders Vikdahl Head of Sweden Operations
Steinar Höeg External Affairs Director Europe
John Linde Deputy General Counsel, R & D, the Secretary
Tel: 08-553260 00
Let Astra dogs live!
NAVS (National Anti-Vivisection Society) calls on AstraZeneca
to free the beagles as hundreds are detained at Manchester airport
1 March 2013 - The NAVS has issued an urgent plea to pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to free as many as 350 beagles that are currently detained at Manchester airport, where they are waiting to be sent to the company’s laboratories, to be used as research subjects.
NAVS Chief Executive Jan Creamer: “We call on the senior management of AstraZeneca to do the right thing – for medical research and common decency – and release these beagles for rehoming immediately. The use of these docile and loving animals cannot be justified. Free the beagles now!”
The NAVS reported on Wednesday how two consignments of beagles had left AstraZeneca kennels in Sweden for the UK and since then the organisation has been informed by colleagues at the Swedish group Djurrattsalliansen that over the past two nights further consignments of beagles have been flown to the UK. Apparently a total of 290 dogs were shipped out of Sweden since Tuesday, with the remaining 50-60 animals leaving the kennels last night.
All of the beagles have come from AstraZeneca kennels earmarked for closure in Orkelljungain, Sweden and unless the pharmaceutical giant has a change of heart these gentle animals will be subjected to cruel and painful experiments. Despite physiological differences between dogs and people, the beagles will be used, according to AstraZeneca’s online Q&A “Primarily, in research related to the cardiovascular area (e.g. atherosclerosis and diabetes), respiratory diseases (e.g. asthma and COPD), plus inflammatory diseases (e.g. rheumatism).”
Since news of the kennel’s closure was announced, animal advocates worldwide have been campaigning for the beagles release for rehoming. Last month, a joint letter signed by 20 organisations and representing hundreds of thousands of supporters was sent to the senior management of AstraZeneca. The NAVS has yet to receive a response.
Take action!
- Please contact AstraZeneca TODAY urging them to release the beagles for adoption. Send a polite email to kontakt@astrazeneca.com and IR@astrazeneca.com.
- Please ask the airline Aeronova not to transport animals for research. Send a polite email to info@aeronova.com and info-cargo@aeronova.com
- Contact the UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt asking them to take immediate action to prevent the beagles being sent for research.
All 400 dogs have now been sent to the UK!
All offers to help Astra Zeneca relocate all the dogs at the kennels to family homes in Sweden were ignored. Veterinarians, zookeepers, dog trainers, outplacement organizations stood ready with Djurrättsalliansen's volunteers to rehabilitate and place dogs.
Astra Zeneca's management refused all the time to see these 400 dogs as nothing more than their property and raw materials for them to use in their experiments and invested in stringent security rather than to offer the dogs a chance of a new life by releasing them into the care of skilled and engaged people who have offered to adopt them.
On 1st of March, 2013 also the last dogs have arrived in the UK and the fight to save them from a miserable and painful life in research laboratories continues; British activists have taken over and protests have already been held.
Astra Zeneca's management refused all the time to see these 400 dogs as nothing more than their property and raw materials for them to use in their experiments and invested in stringent security rather than to offer the dogs a chance of a new life by releasing them into the care of skilled and engaged people who have offered to adopt them.
On 1st of March, 2013 also the last dogs have arrived in the UK and the fight to save them from a miserable and painful life in research laboratories continues; British activists have taken over and protests have already been held.
