Major Monkey Supplier Scales Up

Alpha Genesis, Inc. (AGI), a massive supplier and user of monkeys in biomedical research, made headlines in late 2024 due to the escape of 43 monkeys, the deaths of another 22 from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning, and the emergence of whistleblower reports alleging grave negligence and incompetence at the company’s South Carolina facility.

Despite these disturbing events and a long history of reported noncompliance with the Animal Welfare Act, AGI announced late last year that a 40 percent expansion of its breeding operations—with 1,200 new research spaces and 15 new enclosures—would be ready by early 2026. AGI claims the expansion will allow it to offer more attractive rates on monkeys and contract research versus competitors that are dependent on imported monkeys and thus subject to tariffs, long delays, and a shaky supply chain.

Early this year, AGI also said it is looking to provide long-term care for monkeys whose assignments to research have ended at other institutions, adding that these “biological resources” (i.e., monkeys) could re-enter the experimentation pipeline in the event of future public health emergencies.

With such an abysmal animal welfare record, the prospect of the company expanding and assuming responsibility for the care of so many more vulnerable animals is deeply troubling.

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