The footage, secretly recorded by a lab worker, depicts long-tailed macaques restrained and fed new anti-obesity medication via a tube into their stomachs to assess human safety. According to the Daily Mail, the worker described being 'haunted' by the shrieks and whimpers during trials that could last up to two years. Beagles, pigs, and rabbits also underwent 'extreme suffering' in tests for various drugs, including treatments for serious diseases and everyday medications like headache tablets and antidepressants. All surviving animals are killed and dissected at the end of the process for further study.
Testing methods include 'oral gavage,' where a rubber tube is pushed down the throats of restrained animals to feed substances directly, used for macaques testing weight-loss drugs and beagles for anti-inflammation drugs. In other tests, masks are strapped to beagles and monkeys for inhalation of trial substances, with monkeys prepared by being restrained in vices. Both methods were also applied to test psychoactive compounds like cannabis extracts on beagles for potential psychiatric treatments. The specific pharmaceutical companies contracting these facilities and the exact locations of the two plants have not been disclosed.
The UK testing facilities are Home Office-regulated and operate within the law, contracted by major pharmaceutical companies to conduct required safety tests before human clinical trials. According to the Daily Mail, the former lab worker wanted the footage released to inform public debate on animal testing. Campaigners have called for the government to accelerate its pledge to phase out such tests, branding the footage 'shocking,' while an animal testing advocacy group stated that 'extreme suffering' is rare and trials remain vital for producing life-saving medications. It is unclear what regulatory actions, if any, the Home Office is considering in response.