Pig lungs will be made suitable for transplantation to humans
Craig Venter will be engaged in the cultivation of humanized pig lungs
As part of the agreement, Venter will invest $50 million in the company.
The primary goal of cooperation is the development of technology for obtaining pig lungs for transplantation to patients suffering from terminal lung diseases.
According to an official statement (Synthetic Genomics Inc. Signs Collaborative Research and Development Agreement with Lung Biotechnology Inc., a Subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation, to Develop Humanized Pig Organs to Revolutionize Transplantation Field), the companies' specialists will conduct a thorough sequencing of the pig genome and then compare it with the human one to determine which part of the pig genome should be changed. Then this site will be "rewritten", which will minimize the risk of organ rejection by the human body.
The tasks of the Synthetic Genomics team of scientists include genetic modification of pig cells, which will then be transferred to United Therapeutics to create modified embryos with humanized lungs.
According to Craig Venter, the first modified cells may be obtained within the next few years. Laboratory tests and clinical safety studies of the development will take much longer.
In March of this year, it became known that Venter founded the Human Longevity company, which, combining knowledge about genomics and stem cells, will develop a therapy that allows elderly people to stay healthy and active for as long as possible.
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