Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd.

Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. (SNBL) is an international contract research organization (CRO) and laboratory animal breeding company. Firms hire CROs to conduct toxicity animal testing for agrochemicals, petrochemicals, household products, pharmaceuticals and toxins. SNBL is one of the largest CROs in Japan and has over a thousand employees. It was established in 1957 and is based in Tokyo. SNBL conducts drug development, testing, clinical pharmacology, preclinical and clinical trials. The company has facilities and offices in Europe, China and the United States. SNBL's University Medicines International, LLC is affiliated with the University of Maryland, in Baltimore.

The company had estimated sales of 120 million dollars in 2008.

Facility information, progress reports & USDA-APHIS reports
For links to copies this facility's U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) reports, other information and links, see also SNBL USA Biosupport, Ltd., Everett, WA

For links to copies For links to copies of this facility's USDA-APHIS reports, other information and links, see also SNBL USA Biosupport, Ltd., Redmond, WA.

USDA AWA reports
As of May 26, 2009, the USDA began posting all inspection reports for animal breeders, dealers, exhibitors, handlers, research facilities and animal carriers by state. See also USDA Animal Welfare Inspection Reports.

Animal cruelty & welfare violations
Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! (SAEN) is a national research watchdog organization. SAEN has included SNBL among the worst violators of U.S. laws. (Government reports and ranking statistics available upon request.) According to government reports, 20 marmoset monkeys died of emaciation during a three week period in 2005. (Primates at SNBL have died from toxic side-effects of so-called "painless" drug testing.) The 5 page report (which lists 8 different violations) describes the last days of a primate who was administered toxins, even after a 32% body weight loss. The animal was killed less than a month later after an additional 9% body weight loss. Other violations involved veterinary care, housing, Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) and sanitation issues.

Seattle news investigation: monkey boiled alive
SNBL's Everett facility contract tests for such clients as Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Seattle Genetics. In early November of 2007, hidden camera footage revealed that a wire kennel with a healthy female macaque monkey inside, was put into a giant rack-washer. The 180-degree water, caustic foam and detergent killed the primate at some point during the 20 minute cycle. Prior to the incident, a former animal care supervisor claimed she was fired after alerting federal inspectors to animal abuse. Incidents included carelessly spraying monkeys with acid and intentionally slamming cages on the floor. She alleged that employees would drop cages to the floor and spin them, to "confuse" the monkeys and make them more "cooperative” for procedures. The company refused to speak to local media about this incident or a number of others listed in their U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports.

The USDA did not issue any violations for the incident. Less than a year prior to the monkey scalding incident, the USDA issued a $31,000 fine for other repeat violations. The USDA did not issue a citation after a "promise from SNBL" to "institute new requirements on checking cages before washing them." The local police assigned a detective to investigate possible felony animal cruelty charges and an animal rights attorney is considering legal action against the employees. In the 5 years just prior to the monkey's death, SNBL Everett racked up 133 violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), including repeat failures to protect primates from injury and provide veterinary care. USDA investigators also found multiple cases of SNBL making "significant changes in the protocol" of studies, without approval. After an appeal by SNBL, the USDA reduced the fine to approximately $13,000 (less than 100 dollars per violation).

See also section 1 on facility information & progress reports.

Primate imports
In 2006, 26,638 primates were imported into the US; a 44% increase over 2004. The three companies responsible for over 75% of all of these imports were Covance Laboratories, Charles River and SNBL at 3,097 that year. Cynomolgus macaques made up 92% followed by rhesus macaques, marmosets, squirrel monkeys and other macaques. Half of all primates were imported from China.

Leadership

 * Ryoichi Nagata, M.D., Ph.D, Chairman & CEO.

Contact
Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. St Luke's Tower 12f 8-1, Akashicho 104-0044 Chuo-Ku, Tokyo Japan Web address: http://www.snbl.com/en/4500.html

SNBL USA, Ltd. 6605 Merrill Creek Parkway Everett, WA 98203

Phone 425.407.0121

Web address: http://www.snblusa.com/

SNBL Clinical Pharmacology Center, Inc. 800 West Baltimore Street, 5th Floor Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA

Phone 800.690.9110

Web address: http://www.snbl-cpc.com/

SourceWatch articles

 * Animal testing
 * Eli Lilly
 * Humane Movement
 * Humane Society of the United States
 * National Primate Research Center System
 * Pfizer
 * Pharmaceutical industry
 * U.S. Government's War on Animals

External articles

 * Chris Halsne Do Animal Cruelty Laws Apply In Boiled Monkey Case? & related articles & links, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, February 2008
 * PETA Names the 10 Worst CEOs for Animals in Laboratories, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, accessed December 2009