Alpha Genesis Incorporated (AGI) is a company in Yemassee, South Carolina that breeds cynomolgous, rhesus and capuchin monkeys for use in research. The facility is located on Morgan Island, South Carolina, known as "Monkey Island" for its free-ranging monkey rhesus macaques. [1] Led by CEO Dr. Greg Westergaard, [2] the company is one of the largest of its kind in the world. [3] It is a Class B dealer according to the United States Department of Agriculture. [4]
AGI operates multiple research and breeding facilities across South Carolina, encompassing large-scale primate enclosures, laboratory spaces, and research buildings. The company's facilities are designed to meet regulatory standards, including those set by the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [5]
AGI maintains colonies of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), and other nonhuman primates used in biomedical research. The company employs veterinarians, research scientists, and animal care staff to ensure the well-being of its primate population and compliance with ethical research guidelines. [6]
Alpha Genesis supports biomedical and pharmaceutical research through its services involving nonhuman primates (NHPs), which are used by academic institutions, government agencies, and private-sector clients across various therapeutic areas. [7]
The company conducts pharmacokinetic (PK), toxicology, and safety studies to evaluate new pharmaceutical compounds before they advance to human trials. [7] The company provides support for research into cognitive function, affective disorders, and neurological conditions using primate models. [8]
Alpha Genesis contributes to studies in gene therapy, immune system disorders, and metabolic conditions such as diabetes and obesity. [9] The company also maintains breeding colonies of rhesus and cynomolgus macaques that are free from specific pathogens and can be genetically selected to meet research needs. [10]
On November 6, 2024, a caretaker failed to latch the double doors to an enclosure for female rhesus macaques, and 43 monkeys left the enclosure and took up residence in nearby trees. To catch the monkeys, company officials laid out traps with fresh fruit and vegetables [11] and deployed infrared cameras. [2] By January 24, 2025, all 43 monkeys had been recaptured and were reported to be in excellent health. [12] People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) disputed this claim, and in late November 2024 filed complaints with the USDA accusing Alpha Genesis of previous federal violations of animal cruelty. [13] [14]
A USDA investigation found that the 2024 escape did not constitute a critical violation, and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the National Institutes of Health closed its investigation in January 2025. [15] In June 2025, Alpha Genesis provided documentation that it had passed two recent USDA inspections and had no "non-compliant items" identified. [16] However, a USDA inspection dated December 9, 2024, listed a critical violation in relation to the deaths of 22 monkeys unrelated to the escape. [17] And in July 2025, the USDA issued an official warning to the company regarding the December 2024 deaths. [18]
A local South Carolina newspaper reported that the 2024 incident was the third mass escape at the facility in the past decade, including groups of 19 monkeys (in 2016) and 26 monkeys (in 2014). [19]