FDA Announces Project to Provide Key Tool for Animal Biotechnology Developers

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is announcing a joint project with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that aims to provide an important new resource for researchers and companies creating innovative animal biotechnology products by using genome editing to alter the genome of animals. This project is part of the FDA’s efforts to further development of safe, beneficial biotechnology products.

The FDA is committed to facilitating advancements in development of innovative animal products by providing greater certainty in the regulatory process, encouraging development and research, and supporting an efficient and predictable pathway to market for Intentional Genomic Alterations (IGAs) in animals. Genome-editing technology, like CRISPR, has revolutionized the ability to make targeted changes to an animal’s genome, offering exciting promise for the creation of animal biotechnology products that address public and animal health concerns.