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Monkey Shortage Fuels Startup Breeding Bid
1 Nov
Summary
- Startup Safer Human Medicine seeks to breed 30,000 lab monkeys.
- Research monkey prices surged from $3,000 to over $20,000.
- Opposition from animal welfare groups and local residents exists.
Safer Human Medicine, a startup co-founded by Joe Lonsdale, has secured $28 million to establish a laboratory monkey breeding program in the U.S. The company aims to breed up to 30,000 long-tailed macaques, addressing a critical shortage exacerbated by export restrictions from China and disruptions in Cambodian supplies. This shortage has dramatically increased prices, with monkeys costing over $20,000, up from around $3,000 in 2019.
The proposed $396 million breeding complex in Bainbridge, Georgia, has faced significant local opposition from residents concerned about invasive species and environmental impact, leading local officials to withdraw support. Despite the stalled Georgia project, the company has acquired a smaller operational facility in LaBelle, Florida.
Demand for laboratory monkeys may increase with AI-driven drug discovery, which could accelerate preclinical testing. However, regulatory bodies like the FDA are encouraging the use of AI and other technologies to reduce animal testing, a transition that is expected to take years.
