Disease-resistant gene-edited pigs await FDA approval for commercial sale

These pigs marked the first time gene-edited pigs have been commercially sold. Genus emphasizes a responsible and transparent approach to this development, working closely with stakeholders in the animal protein value chain.

In addition to the United States , Genus has sought regulatory approval for the use of these pigs in countries such as CANADA , CHINA , Japan , Mexico, Brazil and others.

According to Genus, PRRS imposes significant economic costs on the pork industry in the United States and Europe, amounting to approximately $2 billion annually. To create PRRS-resistant pigs, Genus scientists used gene editing to remove a specific segment of pig DNA responsible for coding the protein the virus uses to enter pig cells.

The achievement follows FDA approval in late 2020 for the use of genetically modified pork for both human food and therapeutic purposes, which prevents the production of SUGAR that causes allergic reactions in some people. The FDA also gave the green light to fast-growing genetically engineered salmon AquAdvantage in 2015 and gene-edited cattle with short hair, potentially better able to withstand hot weather, in 2022.