Pharma plants: new challenges for biological safety

Around the world, efforts are increasing to use genetically modified plants as production systems for vaccines or drugs. A number of plantmade pharmaceuticals (PMPs) are already undergoing clinical tests. In Germany, plans for a field trial with genetically modified peas to prevent infectious diseases in pigs have provoked heavy discussion.

Novel feed: Peas to combat infectious diseases
http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/news/536.docu.html

For biological safety, the cultivation of plants that produce pharmaceutical substances poses completely new challenges. Pharma plants are not allowed to spread or enter the food and feed chain. In order to ensure that they don’t, science has developed different strategies. The Focus "Pharma Plants" on gmo-safety.eu provides interesting background information.

Focus Pharma Plants
http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/focus/pharma_crops/

Topics:

Pharma plants: Status report
http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/focus/pharma_crops/548.docu.html

Plants under lock and key: Physical containment
http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/focus/pharma_crops/544.docu.html

Biological containment: Plants without pollen
http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/gene_transfer/confinement/465.docu.html

Biological containment: Seeds that don’t germinate
http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/gene_transfer/confinement/466.docu.html

Biological containment: Trees without blossom
http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/focus/pharma_crops/546.docu.html

Biosafety project (2005-2008): Male-sterile plants prevent the spread of transgenes; University of Würzburg
http://www.gmo-safety.eu/en/safety_science/178.docu.html

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GMO-Safety.eu - Biosafety research made transparent

The GMO-Safety.eu internet portal provides up-to-date, clear information about the research projects funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on the biological safety of genetically modified plants. A comprehensive database with summaries of the research topics, methods and results is supplemented by background reports and interviews and insights into the day-to-day work of researchers. The portal makes the findings of biological safety research accessible to the general public and is intended to help people form an informed opinion. It is produced on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research by the project partners Genius GmbH, Darmstadt; TransGen, Aachen and the TÜV Nord Group.

Contact:

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This release was published on openPR.