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Making the 'worst' list From the Star Ledger Thursday, February 08, 2007 An animal rights watchdog group has compiled a list of what it calls
the 20 worst research laboratories in the United States, and two Covance
facilities rank high on the list. Covance, based in Princeton, contracts out drug development services
to pharmaceutical companies. The company's labs in Virginia and
Pennsylvania had a higher-than-average number of violations of the
Animal Welfare Act during a nine-month period of 2005 reviewed by Stop
Animal Experimentation Now, a Cincinnati advocacy group. The violations,
culled from U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection reports, included
improper veterinary care and inadequate housing or facilities, among
other categories. The watchdog group said the University of Pennsylvania fared worst in
its study with 77 violations, or more than twice the amount of the No. 2
offender, Harvard. Covance's labs came in third and seventh. Labs for
Merck and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey also
made the list. Covance dismissed the list as a "publicity stunt" meant to derail
animal research. "At Covance, we have a 50-year track record of meeting or exceeding
the government's standards, and in treating these animals with respect,"
the company said in a statement. "When there have been issues, we have
responded quickly and thoroughly and will continue to improve our care
of animals wherever possible." Merck referred to its animal testing policy, part of which contains
the statement: "As a matter of principle, Merck adheres to the highest
standards for humane handling, care, and treatment of animals used
throughout the company's laboratories." -- Jeff May
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