FDA approves virus resistant pigs for safe food supply chain
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light to gene-edited pigs that are immune to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). This disease affects pigs' lungs and reproduction, costing farmers about $2.5 billion yearly in the US and Europe.
This breakthrough comes from years of research by the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh. Scientists focused on a pig gene called CD163. They removed the small part of this gene that lets the PRRS virus enter the body, keeping the rest of the gene unchanged. As a result, the pigs are healthy and do not get infected by PRRS.
The project was supported by Edinburgh Innovations and developed in collaboration with Genus, an animal genetics company. Genus used the technology to breed pigs with this genetic change. These pigs show no health problems from the gene edit and are fully resistant to the virus.
“We are delighted to see the PRRS-resistant pig gene-edit approved for use - this is a milestone in the use of gene editing in livestock, and a landmark moment for the livestock industry towards managing a global disease that causes devastating losses,” said Professor Bruce Whitelaw, of the Roslin Institute. "FDA approval is a fantastic achievement for Genus PIC and represents a major step towards US commercialisation. We will now continue to pursue regulatory approvals in other international jurisdictions with a focus on key US export markets," said Jorgen Kokke, CEO of Genus.
“This is a very exciting development in translating cutting-edge research into a major solution for the food production industry. Gene editing – making targeted changes to DNA in a lab – allows scientists to rapidly introduce beneficial traits in plants and animals, which can take decades to achieve through traditional breeding programmes. EI is proud to support Roslin Institute researchers to work with industry on pioneering world-changing animal bioscience like this,” said Dr Susan Bodie, EI’s head of business development at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Vet Medicine.
This approval is seen as a major moment for science, farming, and food safety. It could lead to healthier animals and reduce losses for farmers.
Photo Credit: istock-srdjan-stepic