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Activists Torch Drug CEO's Home, Steal Mom's Ashes

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 5, 2009 2:58 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Animal rights militants have torched the home of the CEO of drug giant Novartis and stolen his mother's ashes from a Swiss cemetery, say company officials. Employees' cars have also been vandalized and attacked with crude explosive devices, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The message "Drop HLS Now" was found on the gravestone of CEO Daniel Vassella's mother, a message believed to be a reference to British animal-research lab Huntingdon Life Sciences. Novartis officials say, however, that the company has not done business with Huntingdon for many years and that while it does still do some animal testing, it has taken "strong steps" to reduce the number of animal used and switch to computer-generated models.

A man passes the logo of Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis at the company's headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.
A man passes the logo of Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis at the company's headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Steffen Schmidt )
Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO of Novartis, speaks during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland earlier this year.
Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO of Novartis, speaks during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland earlier this year.   (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Novartis CEO Daniel Vasella is projected on a screen as he speaks during the general assembly of Novartis in Basel, Switzerland, earlier this year.
Novartis CEO Daniel Vasella is projected on a screen as he speaks during the general assembly of Novartis in Basel, Switzerland, earlier this year.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Georgios Kefalas)
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It is important that people realize that it is not possible to discover novel products which save thousands of human lives every year without some use of animal data, which is required by regulatory authorities. - A Novartis spokeswoman

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
LuxAeterna
Aug 5, 2009 12:52 PM CDT
I can't even begin to fathom the thought process that led to the theft of his mother's remains. WTF is wrong with some people.
Timinator2K
Aug 5, 2009 12:48 PM CDT
I'm a big believer in the ethical treatment of animals BUT, going totally rogue and INSANE hurts the whole movement...the perps need to be tracked down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
awase61
Aug 5, 2009 12:24 PM CDT
@Eleutherius there are protests, there are violent protests, then there is defacing a man's mother's grave and ashes. The first two can at times be completely justified the third never can. If you can't see the difference, this world needs more help then anyone can provide.

 
drug companies • animal rights • Novartis • grave robbing • animal testing • arson

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