Innovative Biotechnology Company Has The Winning Formula, Wins PETA Award

For Immediate Release:
20 July 2007

Contact:
Alistair Currie 020 7357 9229, ext 245
Karen Chisholm 020 7357 9229, ext 229

Gentronix Scoops Up PETA Award for Showing That Science Can Keep Animals Out of the Equation
 
Manchester – In recognition of its outstanding progress in the field of biotechnology, Gentronix has won an award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Europe (PETA). Gentronix’s Green Screen® has been named “Best Innovation” in PETA’s second annual Proggy Awards. This progressive company will receive a framed award and will be featured on PETA.org.uk. “Proggy” stands for progress, and the Proggy Awards recognise animal-friendly achievements in commerce and culture.
 
Gentronix’s first product release, GreenScreen®, successfully combines its expertise in molecular biology and analytical science, focusing specifically on genotoxicity screening. Gentronix, which develops novel assays for cell-based screening, uses humane testing methods and employs yeast cells to assess genotoxicity (ie, the ability of chemicals to cause genetic mutations, potentially leading to diseases like cancer). Not only is this technology pioneering, it also shows the scientific community that animal testing can be replaced by more efficient and humane methods.
 
Animal testing impedes medical progress. Ninety-two per cent of new drugs fail in clinical trials, after they have passed safety tests that use animals. More than 10,000 people are killed every year in the UK by the side effects of prescription medicines – now the fourth biggest killer in the Western world.
 
“Gentronix is showing how modern drug and chemical testing can be done without animals”, says PETA’s Alistair Currie. “Our award is a way of thanking Gentronix for its commitment to ethical advancements in science.”
 
More than 25 Proggy Awards have been given out this year, and the winners include a multi-national pizza chain, a city council, and independent producers and marketers of vegan foods and cruelty-free personal care products.
 
For more information and to see the entire list of Proggy Award winners, please visit PETA.org.uk.