New Zealand
September 4, 2008
AgResearch is urging
New Zealanders to make submissions to the Environmental Risk
Management Authority (ERMA) regarding its applications currently
before the authority.
In these applications AgResearch is asking for the continuation
and expansion of its transgenic livestock programme.
AgResearch General Manager of Applied Biotechnologies, Dr Jimmy
Suttie, says there are many misconceptions about AgResearch’s
applications, and he is urging people to make sure they
understand the nature of these applications before they reject
or accept the necessity of this research. “As a relatively new
technology, there are wide ranging views on genetic
modification. Unfortunately not all these views take all the
facts into account.”
If the new approvals are granted they will enable AgResearch to
further develop its existing technology and, in collaboration
with commercial partners, use specific proteins expressed in the
milk of transgenic cows and goats as nutraceutical ingredients
and in biopharmaceuticals.
“Our strategy is to facilitate the development of a core
capability in New Zealand for the production of high-value,
specialist products for niche markets. Nutraceuticals and
biopharmaceuticals are two areas which we believe have
significant potential,” says Dr Suttie, who anticipates the
programme proposed will add to a growing body of knowledge that
could in turn lead to the development of exciting new therapies
for previously untreatable diseases in humans.
Already many familiar drugs, such as insulin, are made using
genetically modified bacteria. Drugs like these are proteins and
they must be made in a living organism. Complex human proteins,
such as lactoferrin, must be made in mammals.
Producing human proteins in ruminant milk is a safe way of
making large amounts of protein in a form which will work best
in people. The animals themselves do not suffer any adverse
effects. The first recombinant drug from transgenic goats
(ATryn) is now available and being used for treatment of
patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency, undergoing
high-risk surgical or childbirth procedures. (Antithrombim is a
substance that neutralises the action of thrombin and thus
limits or restricts blood coagulation. Inherited deficiency is
associated with recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary
emboli).
Dr Suttie says AgResearch’s transgenic programme can benefit a
small but significant group of people with Lysosomal diseases.
These diseases are inherited genetic defects which result in an
enzyme deficiency. The usual effect of this is to prevent the
lysosome in the cells of the body from performing its natural
recycling function, and various materials are inappropriately
stored in the cell. Through AgResearch’s Transgenic programme
therapeutic proteins may be developed to treat some of these
diseases.
Dr Suttie says AgResearch’s research will involve the testing of
several animal species including cows, goats, sheep, possums and
hamsters. ”While initial work would be done at our Ruakura
facility, AgResearch seeks approval to carry out trials at other
sites. “There have been widespread reports that AgResearch is
planning to set up testing trial units at specific locations
throughout New Zealand, but no decisions have been made yet.
That choice will probably be driven by AgResearch’s partners,
who could include landowners (farmers) who wish to participate
in innovative value-add activities.”
Dr Suttie says it is likely a new facility would need to be
located on land suitable for dairy farming, and therefore areas
such as Canterbury or Southland and other dairying regions have
been given as most likely locations. “But wherever it may be,
the animals would be kept in a secure containment facility, and
extensive consultation with the community would take place
before such a decision is made.”
He says the fear of GM contamination is sensationalised by
groups that exploit by a lack of knowledge and uncertainty of
new technology. It is highly unlikely to happen. All
AgResearch’s work is carried out in MAF approved and audited
containment facilities. Transgenic animals are NOT permitted to
be released into the New Zealand environment or allowed to
interbreed with non-genetically modified animals outside the
containment facilities. AgResearch’s containment facility at
Ruakura has been operating without incident for over eight
years.
Submissions to AgResearch’s applications can be made until 31
October 2008. Once the process has concluded, ERMA will evaluate
the submissions and the applications and if a public hearing is
required, it will arrange for this to take place.
AgResearch’s full applications are available on the
ERMA website.
Submissions can be made on line by going
here. Submitters who wish to be heard in person should take
note that there is a tick-box at the end of the submission form,
where they can indicate their desire to be heard or not.
Additional information about AgResearch's transgenic programme
is available at
www.agresearch.co.nz/transgenic. Be sure to see our new
Fiction & Facts page.
For additional information, outside AgResearch’s application to
ERMA about the potential applications of GM research, visit the
following websites:
www.nzord.org.nz or
www.lifesciencesnetwork.com |
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