PETA Protests At Lilly Headquarters

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(INDIANAPOLIS) - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protested Monday outside Eli Lilly’s downtown Indianapolis headquarters during the pharmaceutical company’s annual shareholders meeting.

PETA Youth Campaign Coordinator Pulin Modi claims Lilly is exporting animal testing overseas to countries that have little or no animal welfare standards. He says Lilly doesn't demand the same welfare standards of its contract labs.

Lilly Corporate Communications Director Philip Belt says using animals is an essential part of Lilly's research. Moreover, he says the government requires chemicals be tested on animals before human use can be considered for approval.

A PETA representative will present two resolutions to shareholders. One calls on Lilly to justify its exporting the animals to overseas laboratories. The second calls on the drugmaker to enforce its own animal welfare policy.

Belt says it uses out-of-country labs not to circumvent regulations, but for ways to be as productive as possible in its research and development. He says Lilly takes serious its use of and care for the animals used in its tests.

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