GoKawiilPalantir Cofounder's Startup Plans to Breed 30,000 Macaques for Drug Testing
Joe Lonsdale, cofounder of Palantir, has backed a new company called Safer Human Medicine with $20 million through his venture firm 8VC. The startup, led by former Envigo COO Jim Harkness, intends to breed roughly 30,000 macaque monkeys in the US to supply biotech firms conducting medical research and drug testing.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The venture signals growing investor interest in supplying lab animals to biotech firms operating under what the report describes as a less regulated environment under the Trump administration. Harkness's history at Envigo, which surrendered thousands of beagles after federal welfare violations and whose parent company paid $35 million in fines, raises questions critics may point to about oversight at the new facility. The plan has already drawn opposition from residents near the proposed Georgia site, suggesting local and ethical pushback could shape the company's rollout.
- 8VC, Joe Lonsdale's venture firm, invested $20 million in Safer Human Medicine.
- The startup aims to breed about 30,000 macaques in the US for biotech research use.
- Founder Jim Harkness previously led Envigo, which surrendered 4,000 beagles after animal welfare violations and whose parent paid $35 million in fines.
Source: futurism.com — Joe Wilkins, 2026-10-31
Published there as: “Palantir Cofounder Announces Cruel Plan to Breed Thousands of Lab Monkeys for Medical Experiments”
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