Animal Legal Defense Fund and Stop Animal Exploitation Now Announce Settlement of Lawsuit with Santa Cruz Biotechnology

Contact: media@aldf.org

San Francisco, CA – Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) and Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. (SCBT) today announced that they have resolved a lawsuit SAEN originally filed against SCBT in California Superior Court for the County of Santa Cruz on January 17, 2013.

SCBT produces and sells research antibodies, which are used by thousands of research institutions and laboratories around the world for a variety of scientific purposes including the development of new methods for the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and cardiac disease.

SAEN, which is represented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, is a non-profit animal advocacy organization whose mission is to eliminate the use of animals in research laboratories. SAEN’s lawsuit alleged that Santa Cruz Biotechnology mistreated the animals that it maintained in California, including mice, and from which Santa Cruz Biotechnology derived research antibodies.

SCBT has consistently denied, and continues to deny, the allegations of SAEN’s complaint, including that it mistreated any of the animals in its care. SCBT has discontinued the use of live animals to produce antibodies in California.

SCBT and SAEN have a shared interest in advancing research without the use of animals. In keeping with this shared interest, SCBT is pursuing ongoing programs to develop alternative technologies targeted to the reduction of the use of animals for research purposes.

In connection with the parties’ agreement resolving this matter, SCBT is permitting SAEN and the Animal Legal Defense Fund to work with an animal adoption group to adopt a substantial number of mice into loving homes that can care for them for the rest of their lives. While the other terms of the parties’ agreement are confidential, SAEN is confident that the resolution of this matter will benefit animal welfare and serve SAEN’s goal of promoting non-animal alternatives for research purposes.