AR-News: UNIVERSITY PATENTS SICKENED BEAGLES:AAVS FILES LEGAL CHALLENGE TO REVOKE PATENT

[AAVS]

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PATENTS SICKENED BEAGLES:
AAVS FILES LEGAL CHALLENGE TO REVOKE PATENT

URGENT ACTION NEEDED

In 1999, experimenters at the University of Texas 'successfully' rendered 31
beagles to be immunocompromised in order to 'mimic' humans who suffer from
secondary lung infections due to weakened immune systems brought about by
diseases such as AIDS or as a result of chemotherapy. Although similar
experiments have been conducted on other animals, such as mice and rabbits,
the researchers claimed theirs was the first type of experiment performed on
a "large animal." 

The dogs were dosed daily with steroids and were exposed to various levels
of total body irradiation to essentially destroy their immune systems, a
process which entailed putting dogs in a box and exposing them to high doses
of radiation. After several weeks, the beagles who survived were exposed to
a mold through a tube down their throats, allowing for a localized infection
in one lung lobe. The 'inventors' consider the beagle patent a "testing
vehicle" through which they can learn more about respiratory fungal
infections. It is also a money maker for the experimenters, since they have
licensed the use of the patent to Sandra Technology, Inc., a for-profit
company in Texas. 

The American Anti-Vivisection Society along with the International Center
for Technology Assessment, a non-profit group that works to address the
impacts of technology on human health, animal welfare, and the environment,
has formally filed a legal action requesting that the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) rescind patent no. 6,444,872, which covers live
beagles and the several methods used to infect them with a fatal fungal
infection in their lungs. The Request for Re-Examination was submitted
personally to the Patent Office on February 25, 2004. The intent of this
beagle patent to make dogs sick in order to generate a profit is clear, and
AAVS aims to end the notion that animals are 'objects' that can be patented.

Two actions are below, one specifically for Texas residents, and one for all
who are concerned about this.

TEXAS RESIDENTS

Please contact the President of the University of Texas and respectfully
urge him and the Board of Regents to withdraw their patent #6,444,872. Tell
them that beagles and other animals are not "machines" or "compositions of
matter."  Written letters sent via regular mail are the best mode to contact
officials to assure that your correspondence is fully considered and kept on
file. Be sure to note if you are an alumnus of the University and ask others
to do so as well.

Larry R. Faulkner, President
The University of Texas at Austin
Office of the President
Main Building, G3400
1 University Station
Austin, Texas 78712

Fax (512) 471-8102

ALL CONCERNED

Please contact the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and tell them that you
support the Request for Re-Examination of patent no. 6,444,872. Tell them
that beagles and other animals are not "machines" or "compositions of
matter."  Written letters sent via regular mail are the best mode to contact
officials to assure that your correspondence is fully considered and kept on
file.

John Dudas, Acting Director
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Mail Stop Comments - Patents
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.stopanimalpatents.org

View the official patent on the beagles (.PDF):
{{url('http://www.stopanimalpatents.org/images/BeaglePatent6444872.pdf')}}



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                AMERICAN ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY
                     801 OLD YORK ROAD, #204
                       JENKINTOWN, PA 19046
                            (800)SAY-AAVS
                
        The American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS) is a non-
        profit, animal advocacy and educational organization
        dedicated to ending experimentation on animals in
        research, testing, and education. AAVS also opposes and
        works to end other forms of cruelty to animals.

        Learn more about AAVS, visit:
        http://www.aavs.org/about02.html
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