Genus plc, the parent company of PIC (Pig Improvement Company), announced on Oct. 5 that Colombia’s government issued a favorable regulatory determination for gene-edited pigs resistant to the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus.
What does this mean? Colombia will treat the PRRS-resistant pigs the same as conventionally bred pigs.
PIC says it’s important to note this determination will not automatically trigger sales of PRRS-resistant pigs in Colombia. The company is working closely and transparently with all stakeholders in the animal protein value chain to establish a timeline for commercialization.
“For more than 30 years, pork producers have struggled to protect their pigs from the devastating PRRS virus. PIC is working to make the PRRS-resistant pig and genetics available to producers across the globe to improve animal welfare and the sustainability of pork production,” Matt Culbertson, Chief Operations Officer at PIC, said in a release. “Today’s announcement marks a critical milestone in the battle against PRRS and it moves PIC one step closer to commercializing the PRRS-resistant pig.”
PIC is working to secure approval for the PRRS-resistant pig in the U.S., Canada, China, Japan, Mexico and Brazil along with other pork-producing countries. Each country has a unique regulatory system and biotechnology policies that will affect the approval process and timeline, PIC says. The company anticipates a series of regulatory decisions over the next few years including a decision from the FDA in the first half of 2024.
“In addition to securing key approvals, other considerations will determine when PIC will initiate a phased global launch. As with any genetic improvement, it will take several years to multiply enough PRRS-resistant genetics to meet global demand,” the company says.
Gene Editing to Protect Pigs from PRRS
PIC’s solution to protect pigs from PRRS utilizes gene editing technology. PIC deleted a small portion of the pig’s DNA that encodes a protein that the virus uses to enter and infect the pigs’ cells. Without the binding site, the PRRS virus is unable to enter the cell, replicate and infect the pig, the company explains.
“Adopting the PRRS-resistant pig can also have secondary benefits, including improving the overall health of the herd and the sustainability of the production system. Research shows the PRRS virus makes pigs more susceptible to secondary infections3. If herds can eliminate PRRS infections, pigs will have less need for antibiotic use4, which reduces producers’ input costs and supports antimicrobial stewardship. It can also reduce the physical, mental and emotional strain on workers resulting from a PRRS outbreak,” PIC says.
In addition, healthy pigs typically consume feed and water more efficiently than pigs battling disease, which may reduce waste, carbon emissions and production costs, the company points out. That, in turn, helps make farms and pork production more sustainable. PIC is working with credible, third-party researchers to conduct a Lifecycle Analysis to quantify these benefits and will share the research findings later this year.
Monitor picprrsresistantpig.com for regulatory announcements, commercialization plans and research specific to the PRRS-resistant pig.
Read More:
The Path to a PRRS-Resistant Pig: A Look at What’s Next
The Wild Wild West of Carbon Markets: Where Do Swine Genetics Fit?
