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Americans for Medical Progress

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Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) is an industry-funded organization and front group for the pharmaceutical, animal testing and breeding industries. AMP runs media campaigns targeting animal rights and welfare groups. It is a self described as a"national 501(c)(3) (tax-exempt) non-profit supported by medical schools, research institutions." According to its website, AMP provides "vital news, information and analysis to research stakeholders to ensure they have the resources they need to deflect campaigns that threaten the future of medical progress." [1]

Contents

Overview

AMP's board of directors consists of senior executives and other representatives employed by the pharmaceutical and vivisection industries. They include Charles River, Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Wyeth. [2] Charles River Laboratories is the world's largest supplier of laboratory animals. It has been described as the "General Motors of the laboratory animal industry". [3] Board members also represent universities and institutions receiving government grants for vivisection. Many corporations and institutions on AMP's board have amassed a history of gross animal welfare violations in the United States and Europe and are the focus of animal and health advocates.

Animal cruelty & welfare violations

U.S. and European investigations of Huntingdon Life Sciences

AMP & Charles River

Stop Animal Exploitation Now! (SAEN) is a national research watchdog organization. [1] SAEN has included Charles River among the worst violators of U.S. laws. The company amassed 22 violations in one monitoring period, including an incident which left dozens of dogs with bleeding paws. (Government reports and ranking statistics available upon request.) [2] Two senior executives from Charles River, including the company's Corporate Vice President, sit on the board of AMP. See also Charles River.

AMP & Huntingdon Life Sciences

Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) is the 3rd largest contract research organization (CRO) in the world and the largest animal testing facility in all of Europe. Firms hire HLS to conduct animal toxicity tests for agrochemicals, petrochemicals, household products, pharmaceutical drugs and toxins. HLS has a long history of gross animal welfare violations. They are the only laboratory in the United Kingdom ever to have their license revoked by the government. [3] See also Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Corporations which contract test out to HLS include members of AMP's own board of directors; GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Wyeth and Abbott Laboratories. [4] See also animal testing, section 3 on product (toxicity) testing.

Wyeth, Premarin & horse slaughter industry

Premarin is a drug manufactured by Wyeth, another board member of AMP. It is derived from pregnant mares’ urine (PMU), and prescribed for "symptoms of menopause". It has been classified as a "dangerous drug" and the number one most likely to cause disability or other serious outcome. [5] Premarin production involves the extreme abuse of horses and feeds into the horse slaughter industry. See also Wyeth.

University funding & animal welfare issues & violations

A 2001 audit for 30 facilities revealed that approximately 56% received over 100 million per year from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for animal research. [6] Four of the universities represented by AMP board members are listed on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals's (PETA) list of ten worst laboratories according to: worst violations of the Animal Welfare Act; [7] largest numbers of animals killed; most painful and invasive experiments and least willing to make improvements. See also ten worst laboratories, sections 5, 6, 8 & 9 on University of Tulane, Harvard University, Oregon Health and Science University (ONPRC) & University of N. Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Targeting animal & health advocates

AMP, Wyeth & horse industry lobby

The Animal Welfare Council (AWC) is a front group for abusive horse industries such as rodeos, horse slaughter and Premarin, manufactured by AMP member Wyeth. Members of this lobby include Americans for Medical Progress. [8]

AMP & Center for Consumer Freedom

"Organizations that embrace animal rights tenets" include: In Defense of Animals, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), Animal Legal Defense Fund and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. [9] According to AMP, the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) has "connected the dots" revealing that PETA and PCRM have received funds from a wealthy "animal rights activist." [10]

CCF sponsors have included corporations like Phillip Morris, Monsanto and Tyson Foods, which have long histories of gross animal welfare violations, human rights, health and environmental abuses. See also Richard Berman cares about animals: clients exposed. Organizations like AMP and CCF not only represent multi-billion dollar corporations, but industries which are heavily subsidized by tax payers. See also U.S. Government's War on Animals.

Marginalizing animal welfare groups

According to AMP, "one needs to be especially cautious" of "organizations primarily focused on animal welfare", as well. These include American Humane Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). [11]

HSUS, ASPCA & Wyeth

HSUS and the ASPCA have both criticized Wyeth, an AMP board member; for its treatment of Premarin horses. [12], [13]

Speaking of Research

Speaking of Research is a "campus oriented" astroturf group. Founder Tom Holder graduated from Oxford University in 2007, with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Mr. Holder moved to the United States in March of 2008 to found Speaking of Research and "take on animal rights groups". According to its website, it's "grassroots activities" on campuses are aimed at "generating student and faculty support" for animal testing. This project is supported by AMP and and Pro-Test in the United Kingdom. In October of 2008, Mr. Holder returned to the United Kingdom where he continues to assist with both groups. [14], [15]

The vivisection "debate"

See also animal testing, section 6 on vivisection debate.

Selected board members

Contact

Americans for Medical Progress
526 King Street
Suite 201
Alexandria, VA 22314

Tel: 703-836-9595

Fax: 703-836-9594

Web address: http://www.amprogress.org/

Articles & sources

SourceWatch articles

References

  1. ↑ Description of Stop Animal Exploitation Now, Wiserearth, accessed November 20, 2008
  2. ↑ Micheal Budkie, Pharmaceutical/Testing Companies Among Nation’s Leaders for Federal Violations, Says Watchdog Group, Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, February 2007
  3. ↑ Dr. Jerry Vlasik Testimony of Jerry Vlasik, M.D.: Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (“SHAC”) Eco-terrorism, U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, October 2005
  4. ↑ Inside Customers, SHAC.net, accessed December 2008
  5. ↑ Premarin, Injury Board, Sept 2007
  6. ↑ Micheal A. Budkie The Animal Experimentation Scandal: An Audit of the NIH: Funding of Animal Experimentation: Audit Findings, SAEN, 2001
  7. ↑ Animal Welfare Act and Regulations, U.S. Department of Agriculture, August 2003
  8. ↑ AWC Members, Animal Welfare Council, accessed January 2009
  9. ↑ Animal Rights is not Animal Welfare, AMP, accessed June 2009
  10. ↑ Animal Activists News: PETA and PCRM Find a Sugar Momma, AMP, accessed February 2009
  11. ↑ Animal Rights is not Animal Welfare, AMP, accessed June 2009
  12. ↑ HSUS Demands Wyeth Laboratories Take Responsibility for Premarin Horses, Humane Society of the United States, October 2003
  13. ↑ ASPCA Equine Program, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, accessed January 2009
  14. ↑ "Founder Biography", Speaking of Research, accessed February 2010
  15. ↑ Micheal D. Hare Fellowship in Public Outreach, AMP, accessed February 2010
  16. ↑ Board of Directors, AMP, accessed December 2009
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