BIO President Jim Greenwood Asks NYSE to Reconsider Decision on Life Sciences Research

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 14, 2005) -- On September 7, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) postponed the listing of Life Sciences Research (Huntingdon Life Science) in an apparent reaction to threats from animal rights terrorists. This week Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood issued a letter to John Thain, NYSE Chairman, and Catherine Kinney, NYSE President, asking them to reconsider their decision. A pdf of that letter is attached and can be viewed on BIO’s Web site at: http://www.bio.org/news/features/JGreenwood-NYSE.pdf

Key points include:

• BIO is disappointed in this reaction to threats from terrorists
• The postponement of the listing suggests biomedical research has taken a backseat to pressure tactics from extremists
• Ethical animal research has been vital to virtually every major medical advance of the last century

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.