More support for Feinstein Bill

[Guest guest]

Tuesday April 30, 12:52 pm Eastern Time

Press Release

SOURCE: Biotechnology Industry Organization

Reproductive Cloning Ban Would Allow Medical Research to Advance

WASHINGTON, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Carl B. Feldbaum, president of

the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), issued the following statement

today regarding the

introduction of a bill to ban human reproductive cloning:

"Senators Specter, Feinstein, Hatch and Kennedy have thoughtfully weighed

the tremendous therapeutic potential of somatic cell nuclear transfer technology

and have concluded -- as

have 40 Nobel laureates, the American Association for the Advancement

of Science, the National Academy of Sciences, and other leading scientific

and patient organizations -- that we

must ban reproductive applications of this technology, but move ahead

with therapeutic research that could produce revolutionary therapies for

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, spinal-cord

injuries, diabetes, heart disease and other debilitating conditions.

"I am confident that the day will come when embryonic stem cell research

will be hailed as a milestone in modern regenerative medicine, and that

this legislation will be viewed as key to its responsible development.

BIO fully supports this bill.

"Our opposition to S. 1899, the Brownback bill, remains adamant.

That bill would ban therapeutic as well as reproductive applications of

nuclear transfer. Because the Brownback bill goes too far -- threatening

scientists and patients with up to 10 years in prison for pursuing medical

research and treatment -- we once again urge the Senate to reject it."

BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic

institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in

all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the

research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental

biotechnology products.

SOURCE: Biotechnology Industry Organization