Genus and Roslin Institute team up to produce PRRSV-resistant pigs

The genetics company Genus and the Roslin Institute are teaming up to produce pigs that are resistant to the devastating respiratory disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. PRRS costs about $2.5 billion annually in the US and Europe alone.

According to The Roslin Record, the two bands recently signed a licensing deal in July. The researchers hope that the agreement will lead to gene-edited, disease-resistant pigs being made available to global pork markets.

With the signing of this agreement, with the assistance of Edinburgh Innovations, Genus will continue the planned work of testing several generations of pigs and conducting research necessary for FDA approval, the report said.

“The health of animals is the cornerstone of their well-being and also benefits the economics of food production and global food security. This very specific animal change to provide disease resistance is the result of decades of work at Roslin and we are excited to help improve animal welfare by bringing this technological breakthrough to market through our partnership with Genus,” says John Lonsdale, Head of Edinburgh Innovations. .

The Roslin Institute has produced pigs that can resist PRRS by editing their genetic code, the report said.

This study was funded by the Biotechnology and Life Sciences Research Council and Genus.