Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA Approves Genetic Modification Of Pigs
Stat: FDA Approves Genetically Altering Pigs, Potentially For Drugs Or Transplants
Genetically engineering pigs so they lack a certain sugar on the surface of their cells that triggers meat allergies or organ rejection won approval from the Food and Drug Administration Monday. The regulatory clearance — the first of an intentional genomic alteration in a product with both food and medical uses — means the animals could be safer sources of not just food but also treatments such as the blood-thinner heparin. (Cooney, 12/14)
CNN: Genetically Modified Pig For Allergy-Free Medical And Food Products Approved By FDA
The US Food and Drug Administration said Monday it has approved a genetically modified pig whose body doesn't make a component that can trigger allergies in people. The pigs should produce meat that is safe to eat, and organs and tissues safe for transplants and for the other biomedical uses for people allergic to the compound -- a sugar found on the surface of animal cells known as alpha-gal, the FDA said. (Fox, 12/14)
In other science and research news —
NPR: 1st Patients To Get CRISPR Gene-Editing Treatment Continue To Thrive
The last thing a lot of people want to do these days is get on a plane. But even a pandemic would not stop Victoria Gray. She jumped at the chance to head to the airport this summer. "It was one of those things I was waiting to get a chance to do," says Gray. She had never flown before because she was born with sickle cell disease. She feared the altitude change might trigger one of the worst complications of the devastating genetic disease — a sudden attack of excruciating pain. (Stein, 12/15)
