PRESS RELEASE                        Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc


                                    ("Huntingdon") (SEAQ:HTD, NASD OTCBB:HTDLY)
                                    Woolley Road, Alconbury, Huntingdon
                                    Cambs PE28 4HS, England


                                     For Further Information:
                                     Richard Michaelson
                                     Phone:   UK: +44 (0) 1480 892194
                                              US: (201) 525-1819
                                     e-mail: HuntingdonLS@aol.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2001

                        HUNTINGDON ANNOUNCES 2000 RESULTS


Huntingdon,  England,  March 22, 2001 - Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc ("The
Company") announced today that net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2000
were  (pound)63.3  million  ($96.2  million)  an  increase of 9% from prior year
revenues  of  (pound)58.2million   ($94.3  million).  The  Company  reported  an
operating  loss for the year of (pound)4.9  million ($7.5  million)  compared to
operating  losses of (pound)3.8  million ($6.1  million) in the prior year.  Net
losses after taxation and interest for the year were (pound)10.9  million ($16.6
million)  compared to (pound)6.6  million ($10.7 million) in the prior year. Net
loss per ordinary share was 3.8 pence,  compared to 2.3 pence in the prior year.
Net loss per ADR was 142.8  cents  compared  to 92.0  cents in the  prior  year.
Included  in the  results  for the year were  exceptional  losses of  (pound)2.3
million ($3.5 million),  compared to exceptional net gains of (pound)0.5 million
($0.8  million) in the prior year.  These  losses  comprise a write off of costs
incurred in the  refinancing  of the Company's  bank debt of (pound)1.2  million
($1.8  million) and a provision  for  impairment  of  (pound)1.1  million  ($1.7
million)  following  a review  of asset  values.  Exclusive  of the  exceptional
losses, the operating loss for the year would have been (pound)2.6 million ($4.0
million),  compared to a loss of (pound)2.5  million ($4.0 million) in the prior
year.

Net revenues for the quarter ended  December 31, 2000 were  (pound)15.8  million
($23.0  million)  compared to (pound)15.5  million  ($25.3  million) in the same
period last year.  The Company  reported  an  operating  loss for the quarter of
(pound)4.2  million ($6.1 million)  compared to an operating  profit of (pound)5
thousand ($8 thousand) in the same period last year.  Net losses after  taxation
and interest for the quarter were (pound)5.1  million ($7.4 million) compared to
(pound)1.4 million ($2.3 million) in the same period last year.  Included in the
results for the current year were exceptional losses of (pound)2.3 million ($3.3
million).  Net loss per ordinary  share was 1.8 pence,  compared to 0.5 pence in
the same period last year.  Net loss per ADR was 66.8 cents  compared  with 20.0
cents loss in the same period last year.  Exclusive of the  exceptional  losses,
the  operating  loss for the quarter  would have been  (pound)1.9  million ($2.8
million),  compared to profit of (pound)5  thousand  ($8  thousand)  in the same
period last year.


The net loss after  taxation  and  interest  for the year which will be reported
under  US  GAAP in the  Company's  Form  10-K  filing  with  the  United  States
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  is  (pound)7.0  million  ($10.6  million)
compared to (pound)4.1  million ($6.6  million) in the prior year.  The net loss
after  taxation and interest  for the quarter  ended  December 31, 2000 under US
GAAP is (pound)1.9  million ($2.9 million) compared to (pound)1.4  million ($2.2
million)  in the same  period last year.  The  primary  differences  between the
results stated under US and UK GAAP are in the  accounting  treatment of pension
costs, deferred taxation, and impairment of asset values.


Andrew  Baker,  Huntingdon's  Executive  Chairman  said:  "2000 was  certainly a
challenging year for the Company.  We're all extremely pleased with the new long
term financing  arranged on January 20th of this year,  and are optimistic  that
that bodes well for the year ahead.  Unfortunately,  the most visible feature of
this past year was the abusive and sometimes violent campaign waged by so called
"animal rights" activists against the Company, and our shareholders, clients and
financiers.   This  campaign,  which  fed  the  uncertainties   surrounding  our
refinancing of the Company's bank debt certainly had a negative impact on orders
and study starts during the fourth quarter and the early part of 2001.  However,
it has been  encouraging  to see the recent very public  support for the Company
and the work it undertakes  coming from a broad coalition of media,  Government,
and from the industries we serve. This gives us confidence that the order growth
which  had  driven  the  Company's  recovery  since the  involvement  of the new
management team in late 1998 will resume during 2001".

Brian Cass,  Huntingdon's  Managing  Director  added:  "Despite  the fall off in
orders in the last quarter, order levels for the year still increased by 5% over
1999. This followed a 17% increase in 1999. This order growth produced a 9% year
on year growth in revenues, with our US business particularly buoyant.  Revenues
in the fourth  quarter  were down on the third  quarter,  but still ahead of the
fourth  quarter of 1999.  This year the client  support  referred to earlier has
been tangible, particularly in the UK. Also we have begun to see some pick-up in
orders from the European  Pharmaceutical  sector which was sluggish  during last
year and has been prone to delays and cancellations."

Mr. Cass added "We've continued to invest in our workforce with selective salary
actions to ensure that we remain  competitive,  but productivity was again up as
we increased revenues by 9% with only a 2% increase in headcount.  Going forward
we shall certainly  re-emphasise our focus on productivity,  process improvement
and cost control which is so  fundamental  to improving  margins once we restart
the revenue  growth.  With our  refinancing  now in place and the UK  government
committed to providing a safe and productive environment for researchers,  we're
optimistic  about,  and committed to, making 2001 a year to rebuild our momentum
at both the top and the bottom line".

Huntingdon  Life Sciences Group plc is one of the world's leading CROs providing
product   development   services  to  the   pharmaceutical,   agrochemical   and
biotechnology industries. Huntingdon brings leading technology and capability to
support its clients in  non-clinical  safety  testing of new  compounds in early
stage development and assessment. Huntingdon operates research facilities in the
United  Kingdom  (Huntingdon  and  Eye,  England)  and the  United  States  (The
Princeton Research Centre, New Jersey).

This announcement  contains statements that may be forward-looking as defined by
the USA's Private  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.  These  statements  are based
largely on  Huntingdon's  expectations  and are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties,  certain of which are beyond Huntingdon's  control, as more fully
described  in  Huntingdon's  Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31, 1999 as
filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.


                          * * * TABLES TO FOLLOW * * *
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

                       HUNTINGDON LIFE SCIENCES GROUP plc
                                 ("HUNTINGDON")
                          (SEAQ:HTD, NASD OTCBB:HTDLY)

            SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNTS
<CAPTION>

Year ended December 31, 2000                                                      2000                    1999
-----------------------------                                                  (pound)000's          (pound)000's

<S>                                                                    <C>                      <C>
Revenues                                                                        63,297                  58,215
Cost of sales                                                                 (55,937)                (51,717)
                                                                       ----------------         ---------------
Gross profit                                                                     7,360                   6,498

Exceptional loss                                                                (2,300)                (1,250)
Other selling and administrative expenses                                       (9,987)                (9,026)
                                                                           -----------           -------------
Total selling and administrative expenses                                     (12,287)                (10,276)
                                                                       ----------------         ---------------

Operating loss                                                                 (4,927)                 (3,778)
Exceptional items - sale of fixed assets                                             -                   1,757
                                                                       ----------------         ---------------

Loss on ordinary activities before interest                                    (4,927)                 (2,021)
Interest receivable and similar income                                           1,303                     637
Interest payable and similar charges                                           (7,320)                 (5,254)
                                                                       ----------------         ---------------

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation                                   (10,944)                 (6,638)
Taxation                                                                             -                      28
                                                                       ----------------         ---------------

Loss after taxation                                                           (10,944)                 (6,610)
                                                                       ----------------         ---------------

Loss per share (pence)   -   basic                                               (3.8)                   (2.3)
                         -   diluted                                             (4.2)                   (2.4)
                                                                       ----------------         ---------------
Loss per ADR (cents)     -   basic                                             (142.8)                  (92.0)
                         -   diluted                                           (159.9)                  (95.7)
                                                                       ----------------         ---------------


Consolidated Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses

For the 12 months ended December 31, 2000

                                                                                 2000                     1999
                                                                            (pound)000's             (pound)000's

Loss for the financial year                                                  (10,944)                  (6,610)
                                                                       ---------------          ---------------
Total losses recognised since last report and accounts                       (10,944)                  (6,610)
                                                                       ---------------          ---------------

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
            SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNTS

<CAPTION>

3 Months ended December 31                                                 2000                       1999
---------------------------                                            (pound)000's              (pound)000's

<S>                                                                <C>                       <C>
Revenues                                                                 15,830                     15,514
Cost of sales                                                          (15,076)                   (13,276)
                                                                   -------------             --------------

Gross profit                                                                754                      2,238

Exceptional loss                                                         (2,300)                         -
Other selling and administrative expenses                                (2,663)                   (2,233)
                                                                     -----------               -----------
Total selling and administrative expenses                               (4,963)                    (2,233)
                                                                   -------------             --------------

Operating loss/(profit)                                                 (4,209)                          5
Exceptional items - sale of fixed assets                                      -                       (15)
                                                                   -------------             --------------
                                                                        (4,209)
Loss on ordinary activities before interest                                                           (10)
Interest receivable and similar income                                      194                        209
Interest payable and similar charges                                    (1,117)                    (1,635)
                                                                   -------------             --------------

Loss on ordinary activities before taxation                             (5,132)                    (1,436)
Taxation                                                                      -                          -
                                                                   -------------             --------------

Loss after taxation                                                     (5,132)                    (1,436)
                                                                   -------------             --------------

Loss per share (pence)   -   basic                                        (1.8)                      (0.5)
                         -   diluted                                      (2.5)                      (0.5)
                                                                   -------------             --------------
Loss per ADR (cents)     -   basic                                       (66.8)                     (20.0)
                         -   diluted                                     (96.4)                     (21.2)


                                                                   -------------             --------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>

                SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<CAPTION>

As at December 31                                                2000           1999
-----------------                                            (pound)000's    (pound)000's
<S>                                                         <C>              <C>

Fixed Assets                                                    64,431              69,048
                                                             ----------      --------------


Stock                                                              907                 803
Debtors                                                         18,290              16,517
Cash and short term investments                                  2,199               5,258
                                                             ----------      --------------
Current assets                                                  21,396              22,578
                                                             ----------      --------------

Bank loans and overdrafts                                     (22,586)            (22,586)
Creditors and Taxation                                        (21,236)            (18,349)
                                                             ----------      --------------
Current liabilities                                           (43,822)            (40,935)

Net current liabilities                                       (22,426)            (18,357)

                                                             ----------      --------------
Total assets less current liabilities                           42,005              50,691

Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
Convertible Capital Bonds                                     (32,888)            (30,331)
Obligations under finance leases                                 (140)                   -
                                                             ----------      --------------
                                                              (33,028)            (30,331)

Provisions for liabilities and charges                         (2,258)             (2,756)

                                                             ----------      --------------

Shareholder funds - all equity                                   6,719              17,604
                                                             ----------      --------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                  SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
<CAPTION>


Year ended December 31                                                      2000               1999
-----------------------                                                 (pound)000's        (pound)000's
(see also Note 9 in the press release)

<S>                                                                    <C>                  <C>

Net cash inflow/(outflow)  from operating activities                        2,088                (163)
                                                                        ----------           ----------

Returns on investment and servicing of finance
Interest received and similar income                                          125                  392
Interest paid and similar charges                                         (4,550)              (4,173)
                                                                        ----------           ----------
                                                                          (4,425)              (3,781)
                                                                        ----------           ----------
Taxation
UK Corporation tax received                                                     -                   28
                                                                        ----------           ----------
Capital expenditure and financial investment
Sale of tangible fixed assets                                                   -                4,214
Purchase of tangible fixed assets                                         (1,905)              (3,024)
                                                                        ----------           ----------
                                                                          (1,905)                1,190
                                                                        ----------           ----------

Net cash outflow before use of liquid resources and financing             (4,242)              (2,726)
                                                                        ----------           ----------
Management of liquid resources
Movement in short term investments                                          2,200                8,800
                                                                        ----------           ----------
Financing:
Issue of share capital                                                         59                    -
Loan received/(repaid)                                                      1,000              (5,214)
Finance leases                                                                124                (135)
                                                                        ----------           ----------
                                                                            1,183              (5,349)
                                                                        ----------           ----------
                                                                        ----------           ----------

(Decrease)/increase in cash                                                 (859)                  725
                                                                        ----------           ----------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


<TABLE>


                  SUMMARY OF UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

<CAPTION>

3 Months ended December 31                                                  2000                1999
--------------------------                                              (pound)000's        (pound)000's
(see also Note 9 in the press release)


<S>                                                                    <C>                <C>

Net cash inflow from operating activities                                   2,184               1,931
                                                                        ----------         -----------
Returns on investment and servicing of financing
Interest received and similar income                                           22                  52
Interest paid and similar charges                                           (692)               (347)
                                                                        ----------         -----------
                                                                            (670)               (295)
                                                                        ----------         -----------
Taxation
UK Corporation tax received                                                     -                   -
                                                                        ----------         -----------
Capital expenditure and financial investment
Sale of tangible fixed assets                                                   -                   -
Purchase of tangible fixed assets                                           (425)               (873)
                                                                        ----------         -----------
                                                                            (425)               (873)
                                                                        ----------         -----------
Net cash inflow before use of liquid resources and financing                1,089                 763
                                                                        ----------         -----------
Management of liquid resources
Movement in short term investments                                              -             (2,200)
                                                                        ----------         -----------

Financing:
Issue of share capital                                                         59                   -
Finance leases                                                                124               (135)
                                                                        ----------         -----------
                                                                              183               (135)
                                                                        ----------         -----------
Increase/(decrease) in cash                                                 1,272             (1,572)
                                                                        ----------         -----------
                                                                        ----------         -----------

</TABLE>
<PAGE>

Notes:

(1) As a result of the  refinancing  of the  Company's  bank debt on January 20,
    2001  bank  loans  totaling  (pound)22,586,000  currently  shown in  current
    liabilities are now repayable in June 2006.

    As part of the refinancing  additional working capital was made available to
    the Group to meet its immediate trading  requirements.  This,  together with
    other  financing  options  still  available to the Company,  are expected to
    provide adequate finance for the foreseeable future.

    In the light of the above the directors  have formed a judgement  that it is
    appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the accounts

(2) The financial  information set out in the  announcement  does not constitute
    the company's  statutory  accounts for the years ended  December 31, 2000 or
    1999.  The  financial  information  for the year ended  December 31, 1999 is
    derived from the statutory  accounts for that year which have been delivered
    to the  Registrar of  Companies.  The auditors  reported on those  accounts;
    their report was  unqualified  and did not contain a statement under s237(2)
    or (3)  Companies  Act  1985.  The  statutory  accounts  for the year  ended
    December  31,  2000  will  be  finalised  on  the  basis  of  the  financial
    information presented by the directors in this preliminary  announcement and
    will be delivered to the  Registrar of  Companies  following  the  company's
    annual  general  meeting.  The quarterly  information  for the periods ended
    December  31,  2000 and  December  31,  1999 has been  neither  audited  nor
    reviewed.

(3) Exceptional losses in 2000 comprise:

    A write off of costs of (pound)1.2  million  incurred in the  refinancing of
    the Company's bank debt of (pound)22.6 million. The costs incurred have been
    written off rather than carried forward and amortised over the period of the
    new loan  agreement.  The reason for this is that the costs were incurred on
    elements of the refinancing which did not proceed, or on facility extensions
    prior to the year end.

    A review of asset values in the UK in accordance  with FRS 11 resulting in a
    provision for  impairment of (pound)1.1  million.  This review  compared the
    carrying  value of the Group's two sites at Huntingdon and Eye together with
    associated  equipment with their value in use. The present value of forecast
    future cash flows  arising from the continued  use of these  facilities  was
    lower than their carrying value necessitating the write down.

(4) The Directors do not recommend payment of a dividend.

(5) Loss per share is based on an average  of  291,206,073  (1999,  291,010,294)
    Ordinary Shares  outstanding  during the year ended December 31, 2000 and on
    an average of 291,793,411  (1999,  291,010,294)  Ordinary Shares outstanding
    during the three month period ended December 31, 2000.

(6) Diluted  loss  per  share  is  based on an  average  of  260,001,683  (1999:
    279,827,855)  Ordinary Shares outstanding during the year ended December 31,
    2000 and on an  average  202,374,067  (1999:  274,724,821)  Ordinary  Shares
    outstanding during the three month period ended December 31, 2000.

(7) Loss per ADR is  calculated  using an exchange  rate of $1.52 =  (pound)1.00
    (1999,  $1.62 =  (pound)1.00).  On July 10, 2000 the Company changed its ADR
    ratio to one ADR  representing  twenty five Ordinary Shares and the loss per
    ADR for each period has been  calculated  using this ratio;  previously each
    ADR represented  five Ordinary  Shares.  The ratio change was implemented to
    assure  compliance with the New Year Stock  Exchange's  listing  requirement
    that ADR's trade at a minimum price of $1.00 per share.

(8) For the  purposes  of  consolidation  an  average  exchange  rate of $1.52 =
    (pound)1.00 has been used in the year ended December 31, 2000 (1999, $1.62 =
    (pound)1.00)  and $1.45 = (pound)1.00  (1999,  $1.63 =  (pound)1.00)  in the
    three month period ended December 31, 2000.

(9) Reconciliation of operating loss and net cash inflow/(outflow) from
    operating activities:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 3 months ended December 31           12 months ended December 31
                                                      2000             1999               2000               1999
                                               (pound)'000      (pound)'000        (pound)'000        (pound)'000
<S>                                             <C>            <C>              <C>                  <C>
  Operating loss                                   (4,209)                5            (4,927)            (3,778)
  Exceptional loss                                   1,100                -              1,100              1,250
  Depreciation                                       1,506            1,492              5,995              5,979
  (Increase)/decrease in stock                       (183)              262              (104)                334
  (Increase)/decrease in debtors                     1,552          (1,822)            (1,774)            (3,041)
  Increase/(decrease) in creditors                   2,535            3,264              2,296                389
  Movement in provisions                             (117)          (1,270)              (498)            (1,296)
                                                -----------    -------------    ---------------      -------------
                                                     2,184            1,931              2,088              (163)
                                                -----------    -------------    ---------------      -------------
</TABLE>

(10)A printed  copy of this  quarterly  report is  available on request from the
    Registered Office at Woolley Road, Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambs PE28 4HS.