Sunday Mirror: SACRIFICED FOR VIAGRA
11 October, 1998
LIVE beagles have been used for horrific experiments in
a British laboratory to test the effects of the sex wonder
drug Viagra.
The experiments involved stripping the dogs' penises
open, inserting a needle inside, and then administering
an electric shock.
Details of the tests have been uncovered by the Sunday
Mirror and can be revealed for the first time today. They
make grim reading.
Researchers at the British base of the American-owned
pharmaceutical firm Pfizer carried out the tests at their
laboratory in Sandwich, Kent.
The diamond-shaped blue pills were released for sale in
the US in March by Pfizer. Viagra has already become
the fastest-selling drug ever, with sales worth
£400million in America alone.
But a Sunday Mirror investigation has uncovered how
Pfizer not only used beagles for the tests in Kent but
also rabbits, rats, mice and monkeys at laboratories in
Bristol and Hanover, Germany.
The majority of the animals had their penises removed
or cut open to monitor the effects of Viagra - despite
clinical trials already being carried out on humans.
Beagles were drugged unconscious before being used
for the experiments at the biology department of Pfizer's
Kent plant because of their docile and friendly nature.
After the tests they were put down.
The night before the experiments were carried out, the
nine beagles were kept in cages and not fed.
Twelve hours later the healthy beagles were given a
general anaesthetic before each one had its penis cut
open to expose vital muscles.
Three researchers and a team of assistants watched as
a needle was pushed into the penis muscles to
measure blood pressure.
An electrode was attached to a branch of the pelvic
nerve and during the experiment a switch was thrown by
an assistant which sent 15 volts surging through the
dogs for one minute.
Viagra was given to the dogs before they were
electronically stimulated by the current, which caused
an erection.
The scalp needle was used to measure intracavernosal
pressure (ICP) or the firmness of the dog's erection.
Scientists carried out the two- hour experiments in the
second- floor biology department at Pfizer's Central
Research last year. Details of the tests were published
in the July edition of the Journal of Urology.
Researchers Anthony Carter, Stephen Ballard and
Alasdair Naylor are the authors of the article, which
describes how the experiments were carried out.
The experiment is titled: ''Effect of the selective
phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor Sildenafil on the
erectile function in the anaesthetised dog.''
Under the title the three men are named, and the report
is described as being "from the Discovery Biology
Department, Pfizer Central Research, Sandwich, United
Kingdom''.
The influential journal is published monthly by the well-
respected American Urological Association based in
Baltimore, Maryland. It is regarded as one of the most
authorative sources of urology - the study of reproductive
organs - in the world.
The report details the effects of tests on beagles using
sildenafil, which is now marketed and known throughout
the world as Viagra.
Justification for the experiment is explained as ''...effects
of sildenafil on erectile function in anaesthetised dogs
were evaluated'', and it goes on to describe the dogs'
ordeal.
"Male beagles with body weights 12-14kg were deprived
of food overnight," says the report.
"Animals were anaesthetised with sodium pentobarbital,
30-45mg/kg...''
Then it explains how the nerves which cause the dog's
penis muscles (corpus cavernosum) to have an erection
were connected to an electricity supply.
"The cavernosal branch of the pelvic nerve was identified
and a small section was dissected free and placed into
bipolar stimulating electrodes.
''The penis was carefully denuded of skin down to the
base, without damaging the prepuce (foreskin) and the
left corpus cavernosum was exposed. A 21-gauge scalp
needle, attached by flexible catheter to a pressure
transducer, was inserted into the corpus cavernosum for
the measurement of intracavernosal pressure.''
During the operation the beagles' body temperature was
kept at 36-38C using an electric blanket. The report then
describes how an electric current was used to arouse
the dog and give it an erection.
It says: "The pelvic nerve was stimulated with a Grass
S88 stimulator at 10-15 volts, with a 2 millisecond pulse
width, which gave optimum responses, for 1 minute to
ensure that pressure increases had reached a plateau
over a frequency range of 1-16 hertz.''
The strength of the electricity was increased to a
maximum of 16 hertz which speeded up muscle
response to produce a full erection.
The report explains how Vigra was given to the dogs and
says:' "Sildenafil was dissolved in saline and given at
doses of 1-100ug/kg, with stimulation starting 15
minutes after dosing.''
In its conclusion the report states: "In an anaesthetised
dog model of erectile function, sildenafil potentiated the
increases in ICP induced by pelvic nerve stimulation...
''Thus sildenafil augments the normal...mechanism of
penile erection and has the potential to be a significant
advance in erectile dysfunction treatment.''
''This mechanism explains the significant improvements
reported in the rigidity and duration of erections seen in
patients with erectile dysfunction who have been treated
with oral sildenafil.'' The report, as well as describing the
beagle experiments, also describes erectile dysfunction
(impotency) and how human sufferers rely on ''a range of
treatments, such as psychotherapy, self-injection or
transurethral application of vasodilator agents, vacuum
construction devices, prosthesis implantation and
venous/arterial surgery.''
In their report the three researchers explain the
significance of Viagra for the treatment of impotency.
They say: "In early clinical trials sildenafil has
significantly improved erectile function in patients with
erectile dysfunction.''
The report describes how rabbits, dogs and monkeys
have been used to study Viagra's effects but that ''the
dog probably offers the best model for the
measurement''.
Professor David Noakes, a leading specialist in canine
reproduction and a member of the Royal Veterinary
College, was given details of the experiment.
He said: "All firms need licences before they can test on
animals. These procedures would have to be carefully
monitored to make sure Home Office guidelines were
being followed.''
Last night the British Union for the Abolition of
Vivisection slammed the experiments as cruel and
added that it would be demanding to know why the
Home Office allowed the tests to go ahead.
BUAV spokeswoman Sarah Kite said: "We are appalled
that experiments of this nature are being carried out on
beagles.
"These beagles have been mutilated in grotesque
experiments for a drug which has no life- saving use.
"We shall be taking this up with the Government as
soon as possible, and want to know why licences were
granted for these appalling experiments.
"These tests were carried out after Viagra had already
undergone human trials. Pfizer were simply putting
these beagles through unnecessary experiements just
to test Viagra's effects again.
"It flies in the face of Labour's election promise of cutting
down the number of needless animal experiments
carried out in this country."
Prime Minister Tony Blair has already been accused of
a U-turn on animal experiments.
Animal rights groups say that promises to reduce the
number of animal experiments and explore other
methods have not been fulfilled.
They are incensed that assurances of a Royal
Commission to investigate tests on animals has failed
to materialise - despite Labour's promises.
Last November a voluntary ban on using animals for
cosmetic testing was introduced - a decision that will
save 300 out of the 2.7 million animals tested each
year.
But it does not affect medical and pharmaceutical
research, for which the majority of animals are used.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "At this point we
see no need for the establishment of a Royal
Commission to investigate the use of animals in
experiments."
Experiments are outlawed on chimpanzees, gorillas and
orang-utans. Testing of offensive military weapons is
also outlawed, but tests on developing means of
protecting armed forces is permitted.
Latest figures from the Home Office reveal that more
than 5,700 beagles were used in experiments in 1997 -
mostly for human medicine research.
Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
there is a rigorous system of control on research using
live animals. Two licences are required for scientific
work, a project and personal one.
A project licence is granted where the Home Secretary
considers that the use of living animals is justified and
the methods proposed are appropriate. When deciding
whether to authorise the project, the likely adverse
effects on the animals used must be weighed against
the benefit of the experiment.
Consideration of using alternative methods and not live
animals must also be looked at.
A personal licence is awarded to people over 18 and is
the Home Office's endorsement that they are able to
carry out specified procedures on animals. Home Office
rules also insist that any place where animal
experiments are carried out is designated as a scientific
procedure establishment.
In Britain, Viagra was granted a licence last month, but
it is only available on private prescriptions after Health
Secretary Frank Dobson ruled it out on the NHS.
Because of its limited availability people desperate to
take Viagra have bought it on the black market via the
Internet - but even they will be shocked at the tests.
Last night a Pfizer spokesman said: "The dogs were
humanely put down. That is a legal requirement.
"We always aim to ensure the highest possible
standards of animal welfare in our research. The use of
animals in medical research in this country is controlled
by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and all
Pfizer's work is conducted strictly in accordance with
those requirements. In addition to that we ensure that at
all times there is veterinary care and advice on hand.
"Wherever possible we use alternative methods that
don't involve the use of live animals.
"We are actively supporting investigations into means of
reducing the number of animals used in experiments
and wherever there is a replacement technique we opt
for that.
"But in some cases you still have to use animals to be
able to get a product licence. We simply had no
alternative.
"In this particular experiment the animals are fully
anaesthetised and are kept under anaesthetic. They do
not feel anything.
"The dog model has been identified as the most
successful in terms of understanding the potential
effects of this compound in mankind. These particular
experiments could not have been carried out on
humans. They were necessary and the Home Office
agreed.
"The fact that it (Viagra) had already been administered
to humans and the fact that this experiment was
necessary are not illogical or incompatible.
"We know that certain doses can be put into man but
we need to test high doses to look at the side-effects
profile. I promise you that this experiment was
absolutely necessary."
- Do you know of a scandal the Sunday Mirror should
investigate? Call our Newsdesk free on 0800 289 441.
THE CASE FOR: 'ANIMAL RESEARCH IS VITAL'
DOCTOR Jane Pearse works at a beagle breeders in
the north of England. "Dogs are used for medical
research which has been invaluable in improving the
health of the nation," she says.
"The Home Office require that such breeders operate
under some of the most stringent animal welfare
controls in the world. Animals used for research receive
the care a patient would expect in hospital.
"The animal has to be cared for every day of its life, its
accommodation has to be heated and maintained in a
meticulous state. It has to be fed the best-quality food,
receive veterinary attention and be provided with a
supply of toys. You will understand that the breeding of
laboratory dogs is an expensive activity.
"Animal research has been vital in the developments of
safer surgery, organ transplants and medicines for high
blood pressure, ulcers and migraine."
THE CASE AGAINST: 'NO LIVES WILL BE SAVED'
VET and zoo inspector John Gripper was shocked at
the Viagra tests.
"No dog is going to take Viagra, so why test it on a
dog?" he said. ''Viagra is not a life-saving drug and it
seems to me that this experiment was not terribly
necessary. I would have thought Pfizer could quite
easily have found 200 willing students to test Viagra on.
''From what I understand genuine medical testing on
animals is justified to a certain degree, especially with
life-saving drugs, but as Viagra is not a life saving drug I
can't see the reason for this experiment.
''I don't understand quite what the justification was."
THEY ARE USED FOR TESTS BECAUSE THEY'RE
SMALL, FRIENDLY AND LOVE HUMANS
BEAGLES are used in experiments because of their
friendly docile nature.
Many firms who carry out tests on the dogs breed them
on site or they are bought in from specialist farms,
costing up to £700 each.
Sarah Kite, of the British Union for the Abolition of
Vivisection, said: "Beagles have become the
laboratory's favourite tool.
''They are very small docile animals who by their nature
are also very sociable and like to be around humans. It
is because of a simple fact like this that they are used.
"For instance can you imagine trying to feed something
to a German Shepherd or test something out on a dog
like that?
''Beagles are very obliging animals and not aggressive at
all - they are the ideal lab animal.'' Beagles were once
used to test the effects of smoking but that has now
been outlawed after pictures like the one above were
published.
sundaymirror.co.uk
Reuter's report:
Beagles 'Sexually Mutilated In Viagra Testing'
yahoo.co.uk
|
