The lactoferrin project is stalling – thanks to the officials!
The continuation of the Belarusian-Russian lactoferrin project is in question
BELTAThe continuation of the Belarusian-Russian lactoferrin project is still in question.
This was discussed today at a meeting of the Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia on economic policy.
To continue the project, it is necessary that after the Belprostransgen-2 program that is currently being completed, a new one, Belrospharm, should be launched. However, the Ministries of Finance of Belarus and Russia have questions to the Russian developers who are engaged in the lactoferrin project. Financial departments have not yet given the necessary approvals. In addition, the parliamentarians of the two countries also had questions.
In particular, this is due to the fact that one of the patents was issued not for the Institute of Gene Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, but for a private organization – Transgenpharm LLC. Also, parliamentarians and other government agencies of both countries have not yet received a corresponding report. At the same time, some of the members of the Union parliamentary body have already proposed to stop funding the lactoferrin project. However, the chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly Commission on Economic Policy, member of the Federation Council Viktor Kosourov noted that, on the one hand, it is impossible to approve a new program and continue working, on the other hand, it is a pity to lose the results of a unique project in which about 600 million Russian rubles have already been invested. "There is no report, the patent is issued for the wrong person. A fair question arises. If we do not open this funding now, and the relay does not smoothly move from the second to the third program, then all the results will be ruined. On the one hand, we must stand on the side of the law, on the other – to understand what it means to refuse this funding," the parliamentarian said.
As Pavel Georgiev, director of the Institute of Gene Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explained, the patent was indeed issued to a private company: "Now the patent is transferred in equal shares to the Institute of Gene Biology and to the Russian Federation. The situation will be corrected. The situation was, unfortunately, started, I agree. It was an erroneous action." The head of the Russian institute did not explain in detail why the patent was issued to a private firm, but at the same time denied the information that he is the founder of this structure. Pavel Georgiev assured that the situation with the patent will be corrected before the end of the year.
As for the report, Ilya Kazeev, Deputy Head of the Department of Life Sciences and Oceans of the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, that is, a representative of the state procurement from the Russian side, explained that proper organizational regulation for this project had not been established before. In addition, commenting on the situation, he noted: "Maybe this is due to the fact that the program implies the creation of a sufficiently large herd (goats are used for the production of lactoferrin. – Approx. BELTA), which cannot be left without maintenance in winter."
He also said that the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia takes this project under strict control in order to put all the necessary documents in order by the end of the year. A corresponding meeting has already been held in the Standing Committee of the Union State. Regarding Transgenpharm LLC, he explained that the team of authors who worked on the lactoferrin project needed to create a private structure in order to conclude contracts with co-executors, as well as to purchase equipment. Ilya Kazeev stressed that this is confirmed by the acts of transfer of equipment to the balance of the state structure. He also confirmed that an agreement will be signed on the gratuitous transfer of intellectual property rights to state structures from Transgenfarm LLC. As for the report, according to Ilya Kazeev, the document has already been submitted to the Ministry of Education and Science, but is still being reviewed by the relevant structures.
Representatives of the Belarusian side also spoke at the meeting – the head of the Biotechnological Breeding Center for Dairy and Beef Cattle Breeding of the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Belarus for Animal Husbandry Alexander Budevich and the general director of this Scientific and Practical Center of NAS Nikolay Popkov. They assured that no patents for private structures were issued by Belarus, and the report was prepared.
"A new unique pharmaceutical substance has been obtained in Russia and Belarus. There is no such amount of it in the world. Nowhere to take. Only in these herds that are created. This is the most important thing. Moreover, prototypes have been made," Alexander Budevich emphasized, in particular. He also drew attention to the fact that if funding is curtailed, the existence of animals that have been bred by scientists will be in question: "Animals need to be milked, fed. We need daily maintenance. Bringing milk for processing, drying protein is an endless process. He cannot be stopped today. I hope we will fix all the issues related to the shortcomings together."
Alexander Budevich also said that the program has already yielded results. Belarusian and Russian scientists have developed specific products. For example, this is goat's milk with special additives, as well as drugs for the treatment of gynecological diseases, periodontal diseases, etc.
Nikolay Popkov, in turn, said that Belarus currently has a herd of 280 goats, of which 164 are transgenic animals needed for the lactoferrin project. Work is underway to build another special farm for 250 heads, which is 60-70% ready. "We are preparing for industrial production," he added.
In addition, Pavel Georgiev said that an experimental herd of goats has also been created in the Pskov region of Russia, which in the near future should receive new animals currently quarantined in France. The Stavropol Scientific Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Feed Production of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences is also involved. He stressed: "The experienced herd of producing goats is unique and has no analogues. And this is a new achievement of this program."
During the discussion on the continuation of the project, Deputy Chairman of the Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly on Economic Policy, Deputy of the House of Representatives of Belarus Alexander Ageev noted that the importance of the program is obvious and there is no need to convince anyone, but at the same time it is necessary to understand why there was a problematic situation and the patent was issued for a private structure. "The investigating authorities should consider this situation and find the legality or illegality of this decision," the deputy said. He also pointed out that, most likely, control over the execution of the program was insufficient.
Viktor Kosourov and other parliamentarians rigidly set the task for scientists that in December of this year it is necessary to remove all problematic issues so that a new program will work in the future. "Certain shortcomings have been made, but they can be corrected. Let's put this under strict control," the chairman of the commission said. He also demanded that Pavel Georgiev specify in the future how the Skolkovo Innovation Center is involved in the project.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru22.10.2013