Genetically modified foods are dangerous to human health. Consumption of them leads to acute organ failure. Currently, countries and communities are fighting against GM food; demanding that they be labeled in grocery stores and that their production be halted in certain countries because of their devastating effects on the human population and the environment.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now approved a pharmaceutical drug that was derived from a genetically engineered planet cell .
This marks the continued relationship between genetic engineers and Big Pharma. And the profit margins could turn out to be quite substantial for both.
Elelyso is a treatment for Gaucher disease . This condition arises from a lack of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. It affects the liver, spleen, lungs, bone marrow and brain.
Israeli engineers at the Protalix Biotherapeutics have successfully grown this enzyme in a laboratory from carrot cells. They found that the human enzyme encoded the proteins into the engineered cells. Clinical trials were promising.
In 2006, the US Department of Agriculture approved a chicken vaccine engineered from plant cells. This product proved difficult and therefore the engineers decided to find a more compatible source of material for their genetically modified enzymes.
The pharmaceutical corporations are thrilled over this approval by the FDA. Pfizer, who struck a deal with Protalix in 2009, will benefit substantially from this drug being available for patients.
David Aviezer, president and chief executive of Protalix in Carmie, is excited that there will be more genetically engineered drugs created in laboratories for consumer use in the near future.
The concerns for public health as evidenced by deriving human biologics from plant cells is not overtly talked about from either the drug corporations, nor the FDA. Both federal agencies and pharmaceutical industry appear to be focused on the potential profit margin to wane over all potentials for danger.
Related posts:
Views: 0