http://finance.individual.com/display_news.asp?doc_id=CT2001211p2393&page=news
July 30, 2001 4:59pm
WASHINGTON, Jul 30, 2001 /PRNewswire
via COMTEX/ -- Today Biotechnology Industry Organization President Carl
B. Feldbaum released the following statement at a press conference called
by Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-Fla.) and Rep. James Greenwood (R-Pa.) in support
of legislation that bans human reproductive cloning while continuing vital
therapeutic cloning research:
"I'd like to express the biotechnology
industry's strong support of the 'Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001,' H.R.
2608, sponsored by Reps. James Greenwood and Peter Deutsch.
"This bill is a thoughtful piece
of legislation that strikes a careful balance between banning an unsafe
and unethical application of technology -- while allowing critical scientific
research to continue.
"Many of us here today can agree
that using cloning technology for human reproductive purposes is morally
repugnant -- it is also dangerous.
"It took scientists more than 270
attempts to create the ovine breakthrough known as Dolly. It would be unethical
and reprehensible to apply those odds to humans -- and those so-called
scientists who claim they can and will are frankly an insult to responsible
medical research.
"However, in the quest to prohibit
the cloning of a human being, it is critical that we protect the appropriate
and important uses of cloning technology.
"The National Institutes of Health
recently recognized that cloning technology could help unleash the full
potential of stem cell research.
"At the intersection of these two
fields -- cloning technology and stem cell research -- may lie the creation
of insulin-secreting cells for diabetics, nervous system tissue for spinal
cord injury victims and a variety of other treatments for devastating illnesses,
including Parkinson's disease, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, and various
cancers.
"The 'Cloning Prohibition Act of
2001,' introduced by Reps. Greenwood and Deutsch, bans all human reproductive
cloning but allows the use of cloning technology for therapeutic research.
This is not knee-jerk legislation -- it is wise and balanced legislation,
which has the strong support of the Biotechnology Industry Organization,
numerous scientific and medical groups as well as the significant and vital
support of many patient organizations.
"Legislators who show fortitude in
making delicate decisions that affect medical progress and human ethics
-- legislators such as Reps. Greenwood and Deutsch -- deserve our support.
They have taken the time to thoroughly examine critical scientific issues,
and develop balanced legislation that protects our ethics and our science.
"H.R. 2608 deserves Congressional
support."
BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology
companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related
organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are
involved in the research and development of health care, agricultural,
industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
SOURCE:
Biotechnology Industry Organization
URL:
HTTP://WWW.BIO.ORG
Copyright (C) 2001 PR Newswire
Source: PR Newswire
CONTACT: Dan Eramian
of Biotechnology Industry Organization,
+1-202-857-0244