Interesting

[Guest guest]

Colorado permits genetically modified corn to fight cystic fibrosis

The Colorado Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday that it will

allow a 30-acre test crop of genetically modified (GM) corn, which

produces an enzyme used to treat cystic fibrosis (CF), to be grown in

County.

French drug company Meristem Therapeutics was issued the first permit

for the cultivation of a biotech pharmaceutical crop in the state. Bill

Horan, the farmer who is growing the experimental corn for Meristem, is

based in Iowa, where he said he has grown the pharmaceutical corn for

two years.

" I've already been able to experience the satisfaction of helping people

with a deadly disease, " Horan said.

Eleven CF patients in London, participating in a clinical trial, are

being treated with the protein lipase, derived from Horan's first-year

harvest, " with fantastic results, " he said.

CF is a genetic disease which causes the body to produce very thick,

viscous mucous, which can clog lungs, and block digestive enzymes from

reaching the pancreas, explained Staehelin, a professor of

Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology at CU. Staehelin served on the

scientific review panel, which recommended that the Agriculture

Department grant Meristem the permit.

Lipase, which works by degrading fat in mucous, has traditionally been

extracted from ground-up pig pancreases for use in treating CF.

" The problem with that is the procedures for making the extracts don't

preclude the potential for animal viruses being transmitted to people, "

Staehelin said. " Getting lipase from corn is safer; it's like laser

surgery versus scalpel surgery. "

According to Horan, it's less expensive, too. " We're producing this

stuff 14 times cheaper, " Horan said. " We're talking pennies per dose

instead of dollars per dose. "

Colorado corn growers hope for the success of this pharmaceutical crop

and that it will help mitigate shrinking profits, said Marc Arnusch,

president of Colorado Corn Administrative Committee, which assists corn

farmers' marketing efforts.

" It's another tool in the tool box that farmers can use to increase

their margins, " Arnusch said.

A press release announcing the Colorado Department of Agriculture's

decision to allow Meristem to plant the pharmaceutical corn cited

cross-pollination with non-GM crops as the main precaution to avoid. To

that end, a 50-foot fallow (unseeded) zone will surround the crop, the

press release said. The plants will be de-tasseled, which means the

pollen-producing portion of the plants will be removed. Furthermore, the

crop will be subject to the maximum number of USDA inspections: five in

a single growing season.

Horan said he is sensitive to the need to protect non-pharmaceutical

crops. " 99.9 percent of what I grow is commodity crops, " Horan said.

" That's my bread and butter. I'm not gonna do anything to screw that

up. "

Horan said some people will never be comfortable with what he's doing,

but that he is responding to a moral imperative. " There are families in

London praying for the success of the Colorado crop. "

Becki

YOUR FAVORITE LilGooberGirl

YOUNGLUNG EMAIL SUPPORT LIST

www.topica.com/lists/younglung

Pediatric Interstitial Lung Disease Society

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/InterstitialLung_Kids/