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Thanks to Lucy Michaels of Corporate Watch for this <http://www.corporatewatch.org>

HLS is where the Novartis' subsidiary Imutran ran its horrific xeno research involving genetically modified pigs organs transplanted into wild-caught baboons.

Blair's Home Secretary Jack Straw recently quashed an inquiry that had been promised into what had gone on. Imutran has also used the courts to prevent the public from having access to the full details of the research.

In addition to the severe and extensive suffering endured by hundreds of higher primates, what is being covered up is the serious inaccuracy of biotech propaganda and the lack of commitment on the part of Blair's government to upholding the rule of law in the face of powerful commercial interests.

For more on all this see: http://members.tripod.com/~ngin/gmanimal.htm
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Biotech group's future uncertain
By Francesco Guerrera in London
Published: January 14 2000 in the Financial Times

The future of Huntingdon Life Sciences, the UK drug-testing group targeted by animal rights activists, hangs in the balance on Monday as it enters the final week of talks with the Royal Bank of Scotland over a financial lifeline.

It is understood that after a week of talks Royal Bank has still to decide whether to delay the repayment of a £22.6m ($33.6m) loan and prevent HLS from falling into receivership.

The company, which tests drugs on animals, needs a delay to agree a refinancing package with US investors that has been hampered by the threat of protests by animal rights groups.

If HLS were to go into receivership it would be a significant victory for the anti-vivisection movement and could raise questions over the future of scientific research in the UK.

The sort of tests undertaken by HLS are required by law to ensure that drugs are safe to be used by humans.

Brian Cass, HLS's managing director, said talks with Royal Bank were continuing and he was confident of reaching a positive solution before Friday's deadline.

The company was likely to issue a stock exchange announcement this morning to quash press speculation that it was facing financial ruin, he added. Royal Bank declined to comment.

However, some observers said HLS could be running out of time because Royal Bank, which lent the funds with two unnamed US banks, has already delayed the loan repayment by several months.

The bank has come under intense pressure from Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, the animal rights group that has led an aggressive campaign against HLS, to cut off the company's financial lifeline.SHAC activists protested on Saturday outside Royal Bank's Edinburgh headquarters and at the homes of three directors.

It is understood HLS has already secured £15m of its refinancing package, which involves a sale and leaseback of its headquarters in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, eastern England, and Princeton, in the US.