US company's gene therapy trial is first to bypass RAC for approval

Article Abstract:

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) committee urged that Viagene Inc, a biotechnology company, be permitted to conduct clinical trials on a form of gene therapy without first obtaining the approval of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC). The proposed therapy is derived from a human immunodeficiency virus vaccine. The FDA committee decided that Viagene's status as a private company that gets no government funding exempts it from RAC's scrutiny. Never before has a test of gene therapy been deemed equivalent to an ordinary drug test whose safety and ethics do not need RAC's approval.

Commercial physical research, Biotechnology industry, Biotechnology industries, Testing, Gene therapy, Powers and duties, AIDS vaccines, United States. Food and Drug Administration, United States. Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee, Viagene Inc.

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US government asked to fund more industrial research

Article Abstract:

The National Science Board (NSB) published a report in Aug 1992 that deplored niggardly federal funding for industrial research and called for a reversal of this policy. The report, entitled 'The Competitive Strength of US Industrial Science and Technology: Strategic Issues,' quoted statistics to prove that the US spends far less than Japan and other advanced nations on research and development. NSB proposed that the US shift from military-related research to supporting research in other industries where greater US competitiveness is imperative.

Finance, Reports, Industrial research, Statistics, Government spending policy, Research and development contracts, Government, Government research and development contracts, United States. National Science Board

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US Senate votes to overturn research ban

Article Abstract:

The US Senate voted 87 to 10 to permit the use of fetal tissues in research. The House approved its version of the bill in Jul 1991 by a vote of 274 to 144, giving Congress the 2/3s majority it needs to enact the bill despite President Bush's veto. Although Bush opposes the bill on the grounds that it will lead to more abortions, the same powerful lobbying effort that got the bill through Congress may also change Bush's mind. The bill includes amendments regulating federal funding for research on sexual behavior.

Science and technology policy, United States. Congress. Senate, Sexual behavior surveys, Fetal tissues

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