Mike Barrett NOVEMBER 27, 2012
We’ve seen genetically modified mosquitoes,genetically modified plants, and genetically modified cows, but could we soon be dealing with our own genetic alterations – genetically modified humans? As the months and years pass, scientistsseem to be getting closer to ‘manufacturing’ humankind, with some of the most recent ‘advancements’ revolving around a new approved drug therapy that is designed to ‘correct genetic errors’.
October 31, 2011
Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Ends Glybera Development, Halves Workforce
Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics BV‘s potential gene therapy, Glybera (alipogene tiparvovec), may have been rejected for approval by Europe’s top scientific advisory panel, CHMP, on Oct. 21, but the closeness of the vote – there was only one dissenting voice – suggests it won’t be long before a gene therapy product clears the committee and reaches the European market.
But that product is not expected to be Glybera, because its development is being terminated by AMT. The company says it has come to the end of CHMP’s appeal procedure, and a refiling would be too expensive.There is a glimmer of hope for Glybera from the U.S. and Canada, however. AMT is to hold meetings with FDA and the Canadian regulatory authorities in mid-November, when it will ask their views on Glybera and gene therapy. If the regulatory agencies are positive about the drug, then project funding could be sought to support filing of marketing authorizations in North America in the second half of 2012, Aldag said.
Glybera, the drug which was approved in Europe on November 1, was created to combat against a raredisorder leading to disrupted fat production. Those suffering this rare disease possess what scientistsdescribe as a damaged gene; the drug is meant to repair the damaged gene.
While the drug is only meant to be given to 1 or 2 out of every million people, it paves way for further experimentation into the field of biotechnology and human alteration. Soon, doctors may be giving out drugs to treat any ‘defects’ in genes, whether it be for the so-called ‘fat’ gene or another instance where a damaged gene is present.
It could even apply to purported ‘criminal’ genes that are said to predict an individual’s future ‘life of crime’. It may sound crazy, but scientists are already making even more serious moves that will alter or ‘create’ humankind.
Further Genetically Modifying Humanity
Although gene-altering drugs are indeed helping to pave the way for further human genetic modification, it is only a single move in the game. Just a few months ago, we reported on the very first group of genetically modified babies being ‘created’ in the United States. The scientists stated that 30 babies were born usinggenetic modification techniques. In addition, 2 of the babies tested were found to contain genes from a total of 3 different parents. Geneticists state that this genetic modification method may one day be used to create genetically modified babies “with extra, desired characteristics such as strength or high intelligence.”
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