Genetic drug benefits 'risky'

Genetically modified medicines pose more risks than benefits, a hearing in Hamilton has been told.

Crown research institute AgResearch is seeking permission from the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) to insert human and animal genes into cows.

It hopes to eventually produce GM drugs and study the effects of gene transfer.

James Valley, of Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Genetics, said yesterday that GM medicines were potentially dangerous.

"Biotech drugs developed in the United States have been unsuccessful in some patients," he said. "The body treats them like germs."

Mr Valley said AgResearch had also ignored the risk of DNA from genetically modified cows entering soil and leaking into the food chain.

But William Rolleston, chairman of GM lobby group the Life Sciences Network, said GM medicines had been used safely for decades.

"For instance, insulin is a drug that has been developed out of the union of human and bacteria genes.

"That is a much larger species divide than between humans and cows."

Dr Rolleston said it was impossible to be 100 per cent certain that DNA from GM cows would not leak into the food chain but the risk was negligible.

Federated Farmers vice-president Charlie Pedersen said he was confident the research would be safe.

He had visited the containment area at AgResearch's Ruakura facility, and found it far exceeded acceptable farm practice for containing animals.

Farmers should be able to choose from the widest range of technology available, he said.

The hearing ended yesterday afternoon and the five Erma members have started considering their verdict.

A decision is expected within three weeks.

- NZPA

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