Case Study

Investor briefing on R&D

Animal research is one of the issues that socially responsible investment analysts look at when evaluating pharmaceutical companies for inclusion in their investment funds. They need to be confident that there is robust justification for animal use, animal welfare is a high priority during research and that GSK is doing all it can to reduce, replace and refine the use of animals in research.

We welcome engagement on this issue and are keen to explain our approach. In April 2004 GSK held a briefing for 14 SRI analysts at our research facility in Harlow, UK. The aim was to illustrate the role of animals in research, explain that animal testing is a small but important part of the overall drug development process, and demonstrate our animal welfare standards.

The analysts visited the animal research laboratory at Harlow, saw the animals used in research and their accommodation and had the opportunity to question laboratory staff. They also visited the high throughput chemistry laboratories and viewed some of the new technology introduced to reduce animal testing such as the animal MRI scanner.

Feedback from the event was positive: “Not only did it usefully provide a clear insight into how the animals are cared for it also provided in depth information on the processes and work behind drug discovery and development,” said one SRI analyst.

For more information on our approach to animal research see Research and Innovation.

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