Herbal manufacturer seeks injunction against animal rights’ group SHAC

Phytopharm is the first publicly listed biotechnology company to seek an injunction against the animal rights’ group Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) after being targeted by SHAC activists in recent weeks. Phytopharm is a drug discovery company that hopes to develop a cure for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease based on traditional plant remedies. Last year it signed a licensing agreement with Yamanouchi, a client of Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), which is the animal testing company that has been a particular target of SHAC’s protests. Phytopharm has sought a High Court injunction against SHAC and a number of individuals linked to the group to protect its employees from harassment at home and at work. The recent developments in SHAC’s protests have prompted the bio-science industry and unions to step up their campaign for a single piece of legislation to protect staff.

Sunday Telegraph, 29 February 2004