STAT+: CDC plans to transfer monkeys to nonprofit’s sanctuary as it seeks to reduce animal testing

STAT PlusExclusive CDC plans to transfer monkeys to nonprofit’s sanctuary as it seeks to reduce animal testing The agency is trying to move quickly due to the ‘compelling urgency’ of finding housing for the monkeys Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Ed SilvermanMay 14, 2026 Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer Ed Silverman[email protected]Ed Silverman, a senior writer and Pharmalot columnist at STAT, has been covering the pharmaceutical industry for nearly three decades. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter. As part of efforts to phase out the use of monkeys in research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to transfer more than 160 macaques to Born Free USA, a nonprofit that runs a large primate sanctuary in Texas.

The agency is trying to move quickly due to the “unusual and compelling urgency” of finding housing for the monkeys, according to a notice about the proposed contract that was posted on a procurement website run by the General Services Administration. Advertisement A timeline for the transfer was not specified but the agency is accepting responses until May 28. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account?

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