When biotechnology giant Genentech began negotiating with the city of Dixon in 2006 to build a new research facility, the news was seen as very favorable for our small city. A 2007 Dixon Tribune article revealed an agreement had been reached, saying the project would help with “ … the research and development of breakthrough therapies to treat cancer and serious diseases.”
Genentech itself said the facility would be a research support facility … to support activities conducted at other Genentech facilities.”
What Genentech deliberately left out was that the research in Dixon would primarily be animal testing, a controversial activity.
A reason Genentech gave for locating in Dixon (where operations began in late 2009 or early 2010) was closeness to University of California, Davis, where graduates could be recruited to work in the new facility.
Another reason for locating in Dixon, in my opinion, was to isolate its animal testing operations in one out-of-the-way location. It might’ve been located in nearby Vacaville, as part of Genentech’s large manufacturing operation there, but if animal rights activists chose to picket there, it might’ve interrupted operations.
As it is, Dixon’s animal testing operation appears to support the company’s main research facility in South San Francisco – 75 miles away. Carrying research materials between the two sites can’t be cheap and easy.
Genentech not only didn’t disclose its main mission in Dixon as animal testing, but has gone to some lengths to stay off the radar of public knowledge. Genentech’s main Web site doesn’t list Dixon as one of its facilities even though about 1.5 percent (or 160) of its worldwide employees work there. Genentech's building carries no logo or sign anywhere on the property indicating that Genentech owns and runs the building. A high fence surrounds the property.
As one industry insider told me, “It’s a hush-hush operation.” Departing Dixon Economic Development Director Mark Heckey confirmed that the facility is primarily an animal-testing operation.
As to the ethical questions concerning animal testing – I personally don’t oppose animal testing, per se, as long as it’s done with lower-order animals such as rats, mice, rabbits, and hamsters (which Genentech appears to use). I do oppose the use of higher-order mammals such as monkeys, which Genentech appears not to use. Deliberately subjecting animals to pain, illness, and even death is awful, but still preferable to using humans as the initial guinea pigs. Someday, I’m sure, there will be sure-fire ways to test new therapies without using animals.
What I do object to is a company coming into Dixon and not revealing to the public the true nature of its operations, especially when those operations are controversial. Imagine if a company processing radioactive wastes asking for approval to establish itself in Dixon portrayed itself as only a “chemical reformulation company.”
Dixon officials must’ve been bowled over when prestigious Genentech approached them about locating here. They saw it as opening the door for other biotech firms to move in, putting Dixon on the map and providing jobs and tax revenue.
However, in November 2006 Genentech and then-City Manager Warren Salmons signed a non-disclosure agreement to not reveal to the public or media exactly what Genentech would be doing in its proposed facility, so the city was complicit in not revealing the animal-testing mission. I’m not sure how many city staff and elected officials were in on the secret.
When I recently filed a public records request to review city information relating to Genentech coming to Dixon, I indicated I knew about the animal testing, and apparently the city notified the company of this fact. I received a letter from Genentech’s legal firm, Meyers Nave of Oakland, saying that certain details about its animal test procedures would be kept from me, as well as details about its facility security systems. In the letter, lawyer Stephen Muzio wrote, “Concerns regarding hostile actions against this research support facility are well-founded … .”
It’s true that animal-rights advocates have breached several animal-testing facilities in the U.S. and opened the cages, and so on. The citizens of Dixon deserve to know that Genentech’s Dixon building could be exposed to picketing or other actions.
There’s one other aspect of the Genentech operation I can only speculate about. In a statement to the city of Dixon, Genentech stated that “There are no planned uses of biohazardous materials at the (facility).” Nonetheless, there have to be dead animals to deal with.
In the area of biohazards, it’s good that Genentech has been working mostly with medicines and therapies to treat non-infectious diseases and immune disorders. However, if they move into the area of HIV/AIDS drugs, and test those drugs on animals in Dixon infected with HIV/AIDS, that could be a biohazard concern.
A note about Genentech: On the plus side, the company (purchased by international pharmaceutical company Roche in 2009) has developed some very beneficial medicines and treatments over the years and many people are only alive today because of their work. For example, I’ve been operated on for basal cell skin cancer several times, and am glad to see Genentech released a product this year to treat advanced cases of the disease.
It would be good if Genentech in Dixon emerged from its bunker mentality (and possible feelings of guilt) and took more of a part in city affairs. For example, its facility in Vacaville belongs to that city’s Chamber of Commerce, but the Dixon operation isn’t a C of C member.
Also, the fact that certain people in Dixon’s city government agreed to keep important information from its citizens points to a need for greater transparency. A vote in November for a Sunshine Ordinance (or Open Government Act) in Dixon to require more openness would help prevent this sort of problem in the future.
The odd thing is that currently just outside Dixon is a well-known slaughterhouse which has never seen the need to hide that it daily kills sheep for food purposes.
I look forward to reading your further comments.
Whether the former Economic Development Director and City Manager had the authority to sign a nondisclosure agreement on behalf of the city is questionable. If the city council or city officials have the authority to withhold such information from the public, then a change should be made immediately.
1- the government should be as open as possible with its citizens when it comes to business and anything else they do for that matter. It is the business of everyone living in Dixon to know what type of businesses are operating in town and make sure they are following the law. Can you imagine if we didn't care, if it wasn't our business? Would we eat at a McDonald's knowing that they aren't properly storing or cooking their foods? Would we know if they were if we didn't make it our business? 2. Animal testing has helped save thousands of lives. And then there are those who shun all types of animal testing. Personally, don't have any problem with it as long as it's done following all state regulations and in an ethical manner. 3. As for the animal rights ninjas who will swoop in to assassinate the Genentech employees who work in Dixon. The facility opened up shop in 2006 -- six years ago -- and we have yet to have a single incident there. If I am wrong, please someone lemme know! Here's another thought. Anyone who truly wants to know the location of this place doesn't have to look in the Patch for the answer. Blogger Bil Paul found it out and he didn't even have a ninja sword. He had something else. A pair of legs and Google.
That said Animal testing on Small Rats is Necessary for Science to Move Forward! But anything more extreme is not o.k. with me and most likely for millions of people. Please reread Shirleys Comment---She makes more sense! You most likely are not aware How Much Information Is Not Covered By the News Media in th U.S.A.! Including C.N.N. and Others. I have to go to "Journal" to get info about "Other" Countries etc. Big Corporations Have Taken over Our Lives---Sad but True! So Please I am Not Against You Working there, Some type of Animal Testing etc. I am Againt Government Withholding Information from the General Public! This of course has Happened for Thousand of Years but because of the Internet it will not be that easy anymore "TO CONTROL"!
"Transparency by corporations"? Really? Corporations, like your person, property and papers, are private. It's written somewhere... maybe the Constitution? (Unless that company is breaking the law, we don't get to know.) If you don't like the fact they are private, you are free to not purchase their product or service. That's the American way! As for the government "controlling" us... I hate how elementary school teachers (agents of local government) made me use capitol letters and punctuation correctly. They forced it on my at a young age.
Genentech doesn't have to tell all just because Bill or his friends feel left out of what wasn't any of their business anyway.
Bill, what you need to do is take a critical look at your story...which isn't a story at all. Like the rest of us, you don't know exactly what activities go on at that facility... yet you write an entire article claiming they test on animals there and have somehow tricked the city into letting them conduct business here. In one of your responses you wrote "I thought I wrote the blog in fairness ..." READ THE TITLE OF THIS ARTICLE BILL! "What Genentech Didn't Tell Us When It Came To Dixon." Fairness?? Before even reading the article I could tell it was going to be negative about Genentech. If you are trying to start an open discussion about concerns about a local business then write the article that way. You have no evidence of wrong doing or harm caused from Genentech moving into our community yet you spew out words acting as if you do. As for the insider calling it a "hush hush operation", I say so what? If you asked me about the exact details with the business I operate in Dixon I would say "None of your damn business". I notified the city of the nature of my business, they issued a business permit based off that (truthful) information and I follow city, state and federal laws and regulations like I am supposed to. Sounds to me like Genentech is doing the same....
If you ask me this is like mopping with an open faucet. Mostly because most of these company's that they target seem to have unlimited resources. There is a clear purpose for animal testing. But activists don't seem to care about the human side of things just the animals are important for them.
Animal rights activists and businesses that do animal testing always stir up a storm. I believe some testing is necessary, you just can't start a trail for new medication on humans right away. In the hierarchy of life animals rank lower then humans. So for some testing on animals is okay. I sometimes support organisations that are for animal rights, like Sea Shepherd who actively are fighting whale hunting(Unlike Greenpeace's softer stance on that issue). But in this case I must agree that testing is needed. I would rather have a family member saved by a new drug, then not. As for needing to know what a business is doing on it's premises I don't know if that is such a good idea. There are businesses that do work for the department of defense, should we really know everything they are doing? Or should we protect the secrets they keep to ensure the safety of the country we all so dearly love?
Should we really all know what Genentech is doing? I think some secrets are there for a reason. In this case it's to protect the company form financial hardship. Genentech employs a good deal of people from Dixon, I for one would like to keep them right where they are. Jobs are scarce and we need every job we have within Dixon.
Get a Grip on Yourselves, this is just a Blog about a concern, that is All! Genetech most likely could care less unless someone with a Million Bucks comes around and started to do something! We are "Small Fry" so cool the mudslinging!
Again, I agree with your basic premise, but I also agree that your article may have caused some unnecessary grief to our friends and neighbors who work at the facility. That said, I absolutely will be the first to admit that I've made a mistake or two along the way and I salute you for recognizing what you could have done differently. Keep writing 'em and we'll keep reading 'em!