CAP Reps at AstraZeneca AGM!

On Friday, 29^th April, representatives of CAP (Cambridge against AstraZeneca Planning) attended AstraZeneca’s AGM in London, seeking answers to vital questions. We continue to oppose the pharmaceutical multinational’s plans to build an animal lab at the planned new HQ in Cambridge.

CAP seized the opportunity to quiz the CEO and other members of the board. The questions were based on CAP’s petition, asking AZ to drop their plans for the animal lab and phase out all experiments on animals.

We are pleased to announce our non confrontational face-to-face approach proved effective. The board members agreed to a response to our communications and were open to considering negotiation. We will be following this up and reminding them of their words.

It is also worth noting that currently the share price of AstraZeneca is at its lowest since the campaign began (Nov 2014). Also, their first quarter earnings have gone down since last year. AZ is at its weakest point….NOW is the best time to join our campaign against the Cambridge animal torture lab!

Rachel Mathai, spokesperson for the group said, “AstraZeneca performs inhumane, unnecessary experiments on over a quarter of a million animals each year*. There are so many human relevant techniques that can be employed instead eg in vitro methods, advanced computer-modelling techniques, microdosing, etc”

Ms Mathai added, “Our aim was to persuade AstraZeneca and their shareholders that it could only be beneficial for them to make a clear commitment to phasing out all animal testing. Thousands of people have signed our petition as an expression of their concern. We sincerely hope negotiation with AstraZeneca will follow.”

* Based on figures from AstraZeneca’s website

To see pics and to  find out more about the campaign please visit our Facebook page.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theCAPcampaign

Please “like” our page if you haven’t already – THANK YOU.

Petition: https://www.change.org/p/astrazeneca-please-listen-to-public-concern

AZ demo at Cambridge Science Festival – “Animal tests, no progress! End the cruelty!”

On Thurs 17th March members of CAP ( Cambridge against AstraZeneca Planning) were demonstrating against AstraZeneca. A speaker from MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics research and development arm, was at the University Technical College for Cambridge Science week. The chanting was passionate and committed activists presented the public with CAP leaflets. Also leaflets with scientific facts against vivisection from highly respected national animal welfare organisations.

The AZ talk involved an explanation of how a new biological medicine is taken from conception through to the clinic. One of our supporters was at the talk to find out if the issue of animal testing would be mentioned by the speaker. She reported back to us that the speaker “didn’t make it clear re animal testing.” Also that “he did say that one was never absolutely sure of the efficacy of the new drug until it was administered to the first human patient.”

Rachel Mathai.spokesperson for CAP said, “Our aim was to be advocates for the animals and scientific progress without animal testing. Also, to strongly urge AstraZeneca to drop their plans for the animal lab and phase out all their experiments on animals.

AstraZeneca performs cruel experiments on over a quarter of a million animals each year.* There are so many human relevant techniques that can be employed instead eg in vitro methods, advanced computer-modelling techniques, microdosing, etc”

To see more pics from the protest and to  find out more about the campaign please visit our Facebook page.

Please “like” the page if you haven’t already – THANK YOU.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theCAPcampaign

* Based on figures from AstraZeneca’s website

Protest against AstraZeneca at B2B Exhibition!

On Thursday, 24th September, representatives of Cambridge against AstraZeneca Planning (CAP) protested outside the Quy Mill Hotel, Cambridge. Their focus was Shaun Grady, AZ’s vice president for strategic partnering and business development, speaking at the Cambridge B2B exhibition.

The protest formed part of CAP’s “AZ Partners in Crime” initiative. This initiative follows on from its statement in “The Cambridge Student” denouncing Cambridge University for its partnership with AstraZeneca (*)

The CAP reps intended to attend the AZ speaker’s seminar in order to find out more about the horrific plans for the new animal torture lab/global HQ. Ludicrously, although they had been registered and emailed tickets all of them were turned away once they set foot in the entrance with no logical explanation!! (All placards, leaflets,etc had been left behind in cars out of sight and everyone was dressed conservatively).

Poor organisation? A cruel joke? Or does AstraZeneca have something to hide?

Undeterred the campaigners pulled forward the demonstration they had planned for outside the hotel ( after the talk). The determined activists chanted passionately whilst holding up placards and leafleting in a bid to persuade companies not to be involved with AstraZeneca.

Rachel Mathai, spokesperson for CAP said, “We were pleased to see that many people took leaflets and we had a positive response from them. AstraZeneca’s experiments on almost 270,000 animals each year(**) are not only cruel but ineffective. We hope companies will realise that being linked to AstraZeneca’s terrible reputation is not an attractive prospect.

Ms Mathai added, “In addition they will inevitably be the target of peaceful but passionate protest.”

To see more pics from the protest and to  find out more about the campaign please visit our Facebook page.

Please “like” the page if you haven’t already – THANK YOU.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theCAPcampaign

* http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/news/0034369-partners-in-crime-cambridge-universityunder-fire-for-new-astrazeneca-partnership

** Figures taken from AstraZeneca’s own website and are based on 2012, 2013 and 2014 numbers.
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The family of Juan Santos Sierra (who tragically died during an AstraZeneca clinical trial) has filed a lawsuit in the courts of Merida, Spain against AstraZeneca. A judge has admitted the complaint and court proceedings have begun with a full investigation currently under way. Please follow this link for further details: https://thecapcampaign.com/2015/05/14/shame-on-astrazeneca-for-its-cruel-disregard-for-both-human-and-animal-lives/

We (CAP – Cambridge against AstraZeneca Planning ) remain in communication with Juan’s brother in law and fully support the family in their struggle for justice.

This tragedy  has been brought to the attention of the public by the Spanish national television and newspapers – EFE, RNE,THE WORLD, AGENCY CANAL 13 TV.

This is not the first time that AstraZeneca has received media attention for unscrupulous behaviour such as hiding evidence from clinical trials, playing down the risks involved and exaggerating the benefits of drugs:

– Feb 2006 (Philadelphia Inquirer), Astrazeneca had to abandon its blood thinner due to risk of liver damage

– AstraZeneca’s drug for stroke patients was abandoned. Although the results obtained from animal testing were positive the drug proved damaging to humans. Dr Robert Matthews ( Dr Hadwen Trust) wrote in the First Post: “The wonder was that anyone found the failure surprising. Tests on animals have led to around 100 drugs being thought potentially useful for stroke; not one has proved effective in humans. You don’t need to be a balaclava-wearing animal rights activist to question the value of animal studies in this area of medical research.”

– In October 2013 The Guardian and pharmaceutical industry news site Fierce Biotech covered AstraZeneca’s dubious results from a US clinical trial used to win marketing approval for its heart drug Brilinta.
“Aspects of the study, which relied heavily on patients recruited in eastern Europe, have been criticised by medical experts. Poland and Hungary together accounted for 21% of the subjects studied – more than double the US and Canada combined.
James DiNicolantonio, Pharm.D. of Ithaca New York and Ales Tomek of Charles University in Prague raised several questions about the conduct of the study… In particular, their analysis found that patients in the Plato trial who were monitored by AstraZeneca were reported as having more beneficial effects from taking Brilinta than those monitored by an independent clinical research organisation.”

– 2013/2014  AstraZeneca was  sued for fraud in relation to misleading marketing and unsafe side effects of its antipsychotic drug Seroquel, (The Guardian and pharmaceutical industry news site Fierce Pharma)

Besides these publicised scandals there will be so many more that have gone unreported particularly by vulnerable sectors of society who lack the money and resources to legally challenge the unethical practises of a multinational. With regards to the current case in Spain it is alleged there has been at least one other death caused by Sifalimumab (the drug in question). Elsewhere in the world, an article in The Independent stated, “In India hundreds of people die each year in clinical trials” (2644 between 2002-2012) – “A haven for clinical trials, a hell for India,”Andrew Buncombe ( Sept 2013)
AstraZeneca performs inhumane, unnecessary experiments on around 300,000 animals each year*. How many more human and animal lives must AstraZeneca take? AstraZeneca plans to build a global HQ and animal lab in Cambridge by 2016 and The CAP Campaign strongly opposes this. Please  like our Facebook page so we can keep you updated about any  events/actions, etc   THANK YOU

Shame on AstraZeneca for its cruel disregard for animal and human lives!

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theCAPcampaign?fref=nf

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/oct/31/astrazeneca-us-drug-trial
http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/texas-ag-astrazeneca-paid-465k-kickbacks-committed-fraud-seroquel-marketing/2014-10-13
http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/feds-launch-probe-astrazenecas-controversial-late-stage-brilinta-study/2013-10-31

Click to access newsletter07-summer.pdf

http://www.vivisectioninformation.com/indexea02.html?p=1_4_ADVERSE-REACTIONS-humans-injured-by-animal-tests

Click to access leaflet.pdf

*Figures taken from AstraZeneca’s own website and are based on 2011. 2012 and 2013 numbers. http://www.astrazeneca.com/Responsibility/Research-ethics/Animal-research/Our-performance