AGResearch claims about transgenic milk are misleading

GE Free New Zealand
In Food and Environment Inc.

"AgResearch claims that transgenic milk is proven to be safe are deceptive and misleading" said Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in food and environment. "If scientists continually mislead the public little wonder GE science is in the doldrums"

Further AgResearch is relying on a deal with Dutch biotech firm Pharming who went into receivership in 2001 and were rivals of PPL but bought their patent portfolio (1)

The linking between Insulin and transgenic milks is also disingenuous. Insulin is produced in bacteria in fermentation vats in laboratories and given to a specific type of patient who is strictly controlled. GE Lacto ferrin has not even been proven safe for development in cows or use in humans. No transgenic milks have been produced for any type of consumption worldwide.

To date the Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) produced in transgenic cows has not made it to market. The clinical trials of rMBP in was withdrawn after a worsening of the lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis. (2)

The hAAT milk in the PPL sheep for Cystic Fibrosis plunged PPL into bankruptcy due to failure of clinical trials causing excessive wheezing. (1)

Spider thread produced in goats milk has not been successful nor was for human consumption.

In 1989 the Japanese company Showa Denko produced L-tryptophan using bacteria which were genetically modified to dramatically increase the yield of this amino acid supplement. The GE process resulted not only in an over-production of the amino acid, but also an over-production of over 60 toxic compounds normally produced in negligible amounts by the bacteria. This resulted in the death of 36 people and approximately 1500 more have been permanently maimed. Showa Denko has admitted liability and has duly paid compensation to survivors. (3)

This incident highlights the fact that GE has potentially fatal consequences and should be clinically tested at every step before such a trial is undertaken.

"Full clinical trials should be undertaken on any organism that is genetically modified, regardless of whether the modification is for supplement or a food. Especially before we delve into the wholesale production of Lactoferrin " said Claire Bleakley of GE Free (NZ) in food and environment.

ENDS:

References:

(1) Doubts over Pharming Technology 25th March 2002

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/l/hi/sci/tech/1892567.stm

Annual Report 2001, http://www.ppl-therapeutics.com

Goodbye Dolly again as PPL shelves drug plan, Terry Macalister, The Guardian, Thursday, June 19, 2003.

(2) MS Clinical Trials confirm approach; demonstrate need to carefully refine targeted peptide therapy. US Newswire Sept 28,2000 p1008271n6955 released by the national Institute of Health:

Beilekova B., Goodwin B., et al. (2000) Encephalitogenic potential of myelin basic protein peptide (83-99) in Multiple Sclerosis - results of a phase II clinical trial with an altered peptide ligand, Nature Medicine, Vol 6, No 10 pp 1167 -1175

Kaposi L., Comic G et al (2000)Induction of a non - Encephalitogenic Th2 autoimmune response in Multiple Sclerosis after administration of an altered peptide ligand in placebo controlled randomized phase II trial, Nature Medicine, Vol: 6, No 10 pp 1176-1182.

(3) Tryptophan summary (John B. Fagan, PH.D) http://www.psrast.org/jftrypt.htm

National Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome Network http://www.nemsn.org/

Does v. Showa Denko of Japan, et al. http://www.wintrials.com/CM/Custom/TOCVerdictsSettlements.asp

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