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Don't Put Human Genes Into Goats for Drug Development!

Target: Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner
Sponsored by: Care2

The Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing ATryn, a new pharmaceutical drug that comes from the milk of genetically modified goats. Scientists in New England have developed transgenic goats that posses a human gene. This gene makes the goats produce human proteins in their milk, and this protein forms the basis of the ATryn drug.

By putting human genes into goats, bioengineers are turning helpless animals into mere drug factories. Indeed, fewer than 10 out of every 100 animals injected with the human gene while still in their mother's womb will be able to produce the altered milk. The other baby goats bred for drug production are killed immediately. What's more, some "successful" transgenic baby goats develop severe birth defects that scientists don't understand. Help stop this cruel farming process before it becomes widespread! Urge the FDA commissioner to deny ATryn and any other drug that comes from genetically altered animals.

deadline: Ongoing...
goal: 20,000

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Dear Commissioner von Eschenbach,

I understand the FDA is currently reviewing ATryn, an antithrombin that developer GTC Biotherapeutics claims helps prevent blood clots. But ATryn's manufacturing process raises serious ethical questions because of its cruelty to animals.

In order to make ATryn, GTC injects a human gene into the DNA of goat embryos. This process of using transgenic animals for drug production is cruel. Out of every 100 animals injected with the human gene, only one to ten will successfully be a transgenic offspring. The other 90 to 99 percent of animals bred for drug production are killed immediately. And some "successful" transgenic animals develop severe birth defects that scientists don't understand.

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Sincerely,
[Your name here]

We signed the “Don't Put Human Genes Into Goats for Drug Development!” petition!

# 100:

11:46 pm PDT, Jun 12, Barry Stieb, Nevada

# 99:

11:38 pm PDT, Jun 12, Irene Mah y busch, California

# 98:

11:37 pm PDT, Jun 12, Brenda Brown, South Carolina

# 97:

11:25 pm PDT, Jun 12, BiLL Fowlie, Maine

# 96:

11:25 pm PDT, Jun 12, Melissa Webb, Texas

# 95:

11:17 pm PDT, Jun 12, Daniela Maroni, Italy

# 94:

11:05 pm PDT, Jun 12, Sharri Kallonas, California

# 93:

10:57 pm PDT, Jun 12, Sundari Rocanella, Pennsylvania

# 92:

10:57 pm PDT, Jun 12, Sandi Reaid, California
I just don't understand why humans have to keep experimenting on poor innocent animals!

# 91:

10:46 pm PDT, Jun 12, Angela Mollo, Peru
Animal beings deserve our care and respect because of their participation in the development of nature created by Our Lord . NO cost - benefit analysis would favour transgenic animals for the benefit of human beings whether scientific minds consider the cost assumed by both, animal plus human beings versus the eventual benefit identified for only human beings.

# 90:

10:31 pm PDT, Jun 12, Patrice Torrillo, Florida

# 89:

10:29 pm PDT, Jun 12, Kyaram Warutian, Illinois

# 88:

10:23 pm PDT, Jun 12, Jennifer Garrido, Florida

# 87:

9:55 pm PDT, Jun 12, Jeanette Martinez., Texas

# 86:

9:55 pm PDT, Jun 12, David Fahmy, Michigan

# 85:

9:48 pm PDT, Jun 12, Sandra Cassidy, Washington
I cannot believe the FDA would even consider such a morbid and inhumane process. This is completely senseless! This just proves how careless and unethical our government is, that scientists will do ANYTHING in the name of science, no matter how reprehensible and morbid. You MUST stop testing on these innocent, defenseless animals. Show that you have SOME morals.

# 84:

9:47 pm PDT, Jun 12, Christine Haddock-Verges, Virginia

# 83:

9:45 pm PDT, Jun 12, VICTORIA BiNCHI, Illinois

# 82:

9:39 pm PDT, Jun 12, Mary Beth Hostrup, Florida

# 81:

9:38 pm PDT, Jun 12, Robert Redmon, Ohio

# 80:

9:33 pm PDT, Jun 12, Michael Cryer, Colorado

# 79:

9:31 pm PDT, Jun 12, Joanne McInerney, Illinois

# 78:

9:31 pm PDT, Jun 12, Parag Desai, Florida
I think its absolutely not right that we tamper with Nature, esp. as do not know with certain what results there will be for man or animal.....please help to stop this!

# 77:

9:10 pm PDT, Jun 12, John Brinkman, New York

# 76:

9:10 pm PDT, Jun 12, Rosie Ward, California

# 75:

9:08 pm PDT, Jun 12, Karen Sheaffer, Pennsylvania

# 74:

9:05 pm PDT, Jun 12, Wendy Walters, New York

# 73:

9:04 pm PDT, Jun 12, Kylie Williams, California
One has to consider that if this step has already been taken what the next step would be.

# 72:

9:00 pm PDT, Jun 12, Lindsey Alexander, Texas

# 71:

8:59 pm PDT, Jun 12, Dinda Evans, California

# 70:

8:48 pm PDT, Jun 12, Debbie Gadbois, California

# 69:

8:43 pm PDT, Jun 12, Lisa Salazar, California
This is cruel and disgusting!

# 68:

8:40 pm PDT, Jun 12, Dawn Beattie, California

# 67:

8:39 pm PDT, Jun 12, Katie Johnson, Wisconsin

# 66:

8:34 pm PDT, Jun 12, Name not displayed, New York

# 65:

8:34 pm PDT, Jun 12, Leah Herman, California

# 64:

8:28 pm PDT, Jun 12, Amy Bostick, California

# 63:

8:26 pm PDT, Jun 12, M. Frances Koziol, Colorado
We need human embryonic stem-cell research. What you are doing with transgenic animals is inhumane and must STOP!

# 62:

8:26 pm PDT, Jun 12, Caroline Mead, Illinois

# 61:

8:25 pm PDT, Jun 12, Jennifer Bieth, New Jersey

# 60:

8:24 pm PDT, Jun 12, Laura Horning, Ohio
This is INSANE and MUST stop NOW!!! Animals are NOT here for humans to use and abuse~they have emotions and they feel PAIN!!!

# 59:

8:22 pm PDT, Jun 12, Connie Frieders, Illinois
What?!!!!! What's next?

# 58:

8:20 pm PDT, Jun 12, C D Allen, Kentucky

# 57:

8:20 pm PDT, Jun 12, Debbie Peterson, New Jersey

# 56:

8:20 pm PDT, Jun 12, Barbara Bunton, Texas

# 55:

8:19 pm PDT, Jun 12, Payton Strzalka, Florida

# 54:

8:14 pm PDT, Jun 12, Linda Hughes, Florida
You have got to be kidding???? This is obscene!

# 53:

8:14 pm PDT, Jun 12, Cindy White, Florida

# 52:

8:14 pm PDT, Jun 12, Genie Mims, Texas
This is the most ridiculous and cruel practice I have ever heard about. Please put a stop to this!

# 51:

8:02 pm PDT, Jun 12, Michele Price, West Virginia

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