The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved gene-edited pigs for human consumption, marking a significant development in the biotech sector. The pigs, developed by UK-based biotechnology company PIC, have been genetically modified using CRISPR to resist porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), a viral infection that has a major impact on the global pork industry.
PRRS, which causes significant losses to the pig farming industry due to reproductive failure and high mortality rates in young pigs, is estimated to cost the U.S. pork industry around $560 million annually. PIC’s gene-editing technique targets a receptor on pig cells that the PRRS virus typically hijacks to cause infection, providing the pigs with resistance to almost all known strains of the virus.
The approval granted by the FDA allows PIC to produce these gene-edited pigs on a commercial scale, with the genetic modification being passed down to future generations. The pigs are genetically identical to their unmodified counterparts in terms of taste and safety. This approval is a milestone in biotechnology, with gene-edited animals potentially offering a more sustainable and disease-resistant source of protein.
Although PIC’s pigs are not the first genetically modified animals approved for food in the U.S. (Revivicor’s Galsafe pigs were approved in 2020), the simplicity and scalability of the CRISPR technique make PIC’s pigs a prime candidate for widespread adoption in the livestock industry. The company is now focusing on securing approval in key international markets, including Canada, Mexico, and China, with the first commercial sales expected to begin in the U.S. by 2026.
This approval represents a potential turning point for genetically modified livestock, which could lead to more meat products that are engineered to be safer, more sustainable, and resistant to disease.