GlaxoSmithKline defiant on animal testing

The head of a pharmaceutical giant targeted by animal rights activists has called for tougher police action to protect firms.

The head of a pharmaceutical giant targeted by animal rights activists has called for tougher police action to protect firms.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) boss Jean-Pierre Garnier insists his firm will not be forced out of the UK by anti-vivisection extremists.

Last week, GSK secured a High Court injunction to prevent animal rights extremists from publishing details of its shareholders.

About 50 shareholders in Ireland and Britain had been sent letters threatening to post their details on a website unless they dumped their shares.

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The campaign was mounted over the firm's continued use of research group Huntingdon Life Sciences, which has long been a target for activists.

Mr Garnier explained: "The legislation is fine in the UK. What we need is more police action to make sure the legislation is actually acted upon."

He said animal testing was "unavoidable" and accused opponents of putting lives at risk.

His firm was about to put a new breast cancer drug on the market that would save lives, he said. "If we were to follow the animal rights extremists, this drug would not exist and those people would die."