Inotiv
| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Template:NASDAQ | |
| Industry | Pharmaceutical industry |
| Founded | 1974 originally established as Bioanalytical Systems |
| Founder | Peter Kissinger |
| Headquarters | Lafayette, Indiana, United States |
Key people | |
| Services | Contract research organization |
| Revenue |
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| Total assets |
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| Total equity |
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Number of employees | 1,200+ (2020) |
| Website | www |
Inotiv, Inc. is a contract research organization based in Lafayette, Indiana. The company operates through two principal divisions: Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), which delivers services related to drug development and environmental sciences including safety evaluations, analytical assessments, metabolism investigations, chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC), as well as regulatory consulting for small molecule pharmaceuticals, biotherapeutics, and medical devices; and Research Models and Services (RMS), which provides research animals, laboratory animal diets, bedding materials, and ancillary support.
The firm has been subject to scrutiny over its use of non-human primates and beagles in animal testing, along with concerns about the sourcing of laboratory animals. In 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture identified violations of the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 at Inotiv’s dog-breeding site located in Cumberland, Virginia, resulting in a $35 million penalty. Nonetheless, Inotiv maintains accreditation from AAALAC International.
History
Bioanalytical Systems, founded in 1974 by Purdue University chemistry professor Peter Kissinger, merged with Seventh Wave Laboratories in July 2018 to broaden its scientific capabilities and expand service offerings.
In March 2021, the company adopted the Inotiv name to unify its brand identity following the initial launch of the Inotiv brand for its contract research segment in November 2019.
In November 2021, Inotiv completed the acquisition of Envigo—a business created in 2015 through the combination of Huntingdon Life Sciences, Harlan Laboratories, and three additional subsidiaries. Envigo had gone public via a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) transaction in August 2017. Before being acquired by Inotiv, Envigo sold its nonclinical contract research services division to LabCorp for $485 million in 2019 and acquired Horizon Discovery’s animal models unit specializing in genetically engineered animals.
Continuing its expansion strategy through acquisitions, Inotiv purchased Integrated Laboratory Systems for $56 million in January 2022 and acquired Orient BioResource Center—a preclinical contract research organization and supplier of animal models—for $51 million in February 2022.
In August 2023, Inotiv sold its Israeli operations to Harlan Holdings for $3.7 million.
Conditions for Beagles at the Cumberland, Virginia Facility
The organization maintained a breeding and research center in Cumberland, Virginia that housed more than 5,000 beagles bred specifically for scientific purposes. In 2019, an undercover probe was conducted by PETA. Subsequent USDA inspections in 2021 uncovered numerous breaches of the Animal Welfare Act of 1966, including insufficient provision of food and water, lack of adequate veterinary treatment, and poor sanitary conditions. Documentation revealed that over 500 dogs endured pain and distress, suffered from heat exposure without air conditioning, sustained injuries, experienced severe dental issues, and that more than 300 puppies died from unexplained causes with incomplete record-keeping. Puppies were reportedly euthanized without anesthesia, and frequent aggressive encounters among the dogs were noted.[1]
These revelations prompted legislative measures in Virginia during 2022, introducing bills aimed at strengthening oversight and establishing criminal penalties for staff misconduct; one such bill was enacted in April 2022. After a March 2022 inspection identified ongoing violations including hazardous environments and food contamination, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine urged the USDA to revoke the facility’s operating license.[2][3]
In May 2022, the United States Department of Justice initiated a federal lawsuit seeking to terminate the company’s breeding and sales activities at this location. A U.S. District Court issued an injunction, resulting in the seizure of nearly 150 beagles requiring immediate medical attention due to neglect by the company.[4][5]
By July 2022, the company consented to halt all operations licensed under the Animal Welfare Act at Cumberland and agreed to transfer almost 4,000 beagles to the Humane Society of the United States, also contributing financially to adoption expenses. This event represented the Humane Society’s largest animal welfare seizure ever recorded. The dogs were rehomed across the country and fully adopted by September 2022. Among the adopters were prominent individuals such as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.[6][7][8]
In June 2024, the company admitted guilt to charges of conspiring to violate both the Animal Welfare Act and the Clean Water Act. It agreed to pay $22 million in fines—the most substantial penalty for animal welfare violations imposed by the DOJ—and an additional $13.5 million designated for animal welfare initiatives, law enforcement expenses, and facility upgrades.[9][10]
Allegations of Illegal Monkey Imports
In August 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission commenced an inquiry into the company regarding possible breaches of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The investigation centers on allegations that monkeys used by the company were unlawfully captured from protected national parks and wild environments.
External links
- American companies established in 1974
- Animal testing in the United States
- Animal cruelty incidents
- Companies based in Indiana
- Companies listed on the Nasdaq
- Contract research organizations
- Health care companies based in Indiana
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- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
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