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21 March 2003
Where has UK Biotechnology gone?
James Irvine
FRSE, DSc, FRCP(Ed), FRCPath, FInstBiol, FIsntDirectors
Teviot Scientific Consultancy, Edinburgh
Teviot Agriculture, Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie, Perthshire
Scotland
© Teviot Scientific Consultancy
Filed 21 March 2003
When researching information on what tests for
BSE are available and currently in extensive use on the Continent
of Europe, and which could potentially be used routinely in the
UK according to recent statements by the FSA (1),
it was depressing to find that of the four commercial tests selected
for evaluation (2, 3,
4) the one that was eliminated was from the UK.
The tests in kit form that were approved by the
EC are in alphabetical order:
Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique
(France)
Enfer Technology Ltd (Ireland)
Prionics A.G. (Switzerland)
The exclusion of the UK application was perfectly
fair and open (3). It simply did not meet the specification
requirements (3).
One hears so much about the need for UK academic
research to integrate with commerce, and we hear so much about how
great our academic institutions are - so how come we cannot compete
effectively, even in relation to a disease that has caused so much
devastation to human health (actual and potential cases of vCJD),
animal welfare (BSE in cattle and its theoretical potential presence
in sheep) and to the livestock trade in our country?
The question has to be asked whether or not there
was effective co-operation between our Academic Research Institutions
and the commercial company trying to make an effective bid for this
highly lucrative market.
If the FSA proposals to scrap or modify the OTMS
come into effect (5), and if the
new scheme involves routine post-mortem testing of all UK cattle
over a certain age using these tests, the UK will have to buy these
diagnostic kits from our neighbours in Europe. Even more of our
financial resources will go out of the country. The outcome will
be that the UK suffers most from the disease, while others reap
the benefits of the science that has been applied to it.
One cannot help thinking back to the Royal Society
of Edinburgh FMD Inquiry (6) where
evidence was submitted from within the UK (7)
and abroad (8) that UK Research
Institutions were less than accommodating in terms of the development
of what they allegedly regarded as rival commercial interests.
On page 14 para 62 of the RSE FMD Inquiry (6)
reference is made to the need, as a matter of the highest priority,
for collaboration with interested commercial companies in relation
to the development of appropriate tests. It is to be wondered as
to whether or not this principle also applied to BSE.
References
1. Irvine, James
(2003). Food Standards Agency Review of OTMS: a follow up
(Filed 20 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
2. European
Commission (1999). Preliminary Report: The Evaluation of tests for
the diagnosis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in bovines.
8 July 1999. (Download
PDF).
3. Moynagh J.
& Schimmel, H. (1999). Tests for BSE evaluated. Nature, 400:
105. (Download
PDF). Reproduced with permission.
4. Butler, D.
(1998). Brussels seeks BSE diagnostic test to screen European cattle.
Nature, 395: 205. (Download
PDF). Reproduced with permission.
5. Irvine, James
(2003). The Food Standards Agency reviews the OTMS rule - are they
going to scrap it?
(Filed 12 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
6. Royal Society of Edinburgh
(2002). Inquiry into Foot and Mouth Disease in Scotland. July 2002.
(Download
PDF).
7. Fink, Colin G (Micropathology
Ltd) (2002). Evidence Submitted to the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Inquiry, January 2002. (Download
PDF).
8. Walfield, Alan M (United Biomedical
Inc) (2002). Evidence Submitted to the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Inquiry, January 2002. (Download
PDF).
Further Reading Recommended by Land-Care
Irvine, James (2003). Current Assessment of the Future Prevalence
of vCJD in the UK.
(Filed 12 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
Detection of Prions: Developing Technology
(Filed 12 March 2003, www.land-care.org.uk,
click
here to view).
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