About 20 animal rights activists from across Southern California gathered outside Amgen’s Thousand Oaks headquarters on Aug. 3, staging a roughly hourlong demonstration that pressed the biotech giant to end animal testing and cut ties with commercial breeder Marshall BioResources.
What happened at the rally
Protesters arrived at approximately 1:30 p.m., carrying signs and amplifiers. Organizers said they remained on public streets; an Amgen security guard told the group they were trespassing on private property, but there was no confrontation beyond that exchange. For about an hour demonstrators used sirens, whistles and chants — including “There’s no excuse for animal abuse,” “Amgen has blood on their hands” and “It’s not science; it’s violence.”
San Diego resident Pete Raimann, representing the animal rights group True Cost Project, poured fake blood on the pavement as part of the demonstration. The mood at the rally was described by organizers as peaceful; no arrests or physical altercations were reported in local accounts.
Demands and allegations
The demonstrators, organized in part by Direct Action Everywhere, focused their criticism on Marshall BioResources, a commercial breeder that supplies animals for laboratory research. A news release from Direct Action Everywhere highlighted Marshall’s North Rose, New York, facility and said it houses more than 40,000 animals, including about 16,000 dogs, calling the site “a factory farm for research animals.” Protesters at the Thousand Oaks rally called on Amgen to sever contractual ties with the breeder.
- When: Aug. 3, about 1:30 p.m.
- Who: ~20 protesters from across Southern California; groups included Direct Action Everywhere and True Cost Project
- Location: Outside Amgen headquarters, Thousand Oaks
- Primary demand: Amgen stop using animals for testing and end relationships with Marshall BioResources
Responses and inspection records cited
Marshall BioResources issued a written statement to local media emphasizing that its facilities are regularly inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The company said it underwent two unannounced USDA inspections in May and July of the current year that produced zero citations, and defended the role of responsible animal research in medical advances for people and pets.
"For decades, responsible animal research has played an essential role in advancing medical science for people and pet," the Marshall statement read, listing examples of past advances tied to animal research.
The news item available to NEXO RADAR did not include a full statement from Amgen. Local reporters noted only that security questioned the protesters’ location; there is no public record in the report of Amgen engaging directly with demonstrators during the event.
| Claim or fact | Source |
|---|---|
| Approximate protesters | Local reporting — about 20 |
| Marshall facility population | Direct Action Everywhere — >40,000 animals, including ~16,000 dogs |
| USDA unannounced inspections | Marshall statement — May and July, zero citations |
Local context and possible consequences
Amgen is one of Thousand Oaks’ largest employers and a visible corporate presence in the city. Protests at its headquarters draw attention not only to the company’s research partnerships but also to broader community concerns over animal welfare, corporate transparency and ethical sourcing. The demonstration follows nationwide actions, signaling coordinated pressure on biopharma firms across multiple markets.
For Thousand Oaks residents, the event underscores a few practical issues: the ability of small, organized groups to bring national issues to a local doorstep; the role company security plays in managing protests near corporate campuses; and the reputational visibility employers face when suppliers in other states become the subject of activism. Should the groups sustain pressure, Amgen may be asked publicly to clarify its supplier relationships and animal research policies, which could prompt further local gatherings or formal requests from elected officials or oversight bodies.
The protest concluded without reported arrests or escalation. Organizers indicated the action was part of a series of national demonstrations over the preceding weekend; Marshall BioResources’ statement and its cited USDA inspection record were central to the back-and-forth presented to local readers.
As this story develops, NEXO RADAR will pursue any official responses from Amgen and monitor whether the company provides details about its relationship with Marshall BioResources or makes policy statements in response to renewed activist pressure.
