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US firm develops allergen-free cats

Coming next -- genetically modified pets? Transgenic Pets, a tiny company in Syracuse, NewYork, says it is developing a genetically engineered cat that won't cause allergies, a development that could allow millions of people who can't now do so to keep the animals as pets.

So far, the allergen-free cat is closer to concept than realization. The tiny company is a shoestring operation run out of the home of its founder, Dr David Avner, a 31-year-old medical resident who works in the emergency room of a Syracuse hospital, and his wife. But the research to develop the cat is being done under contract by Dr Xiangzhong Yang at the University of Connecticut, who is one of the nation's authorities on animal cloning.

"We feel confident by 2003 we'll be able to produce an allergen-free cat," said Yang, explaining that the job will require both genetic engineering and cloning. The type of genetic manipulation and cloning required, however, have not yet been achieved on cats, which are considered harder to work with than cattle, Yang's main focus to date.

There are some other small companies trying to clone pets, so that people can have a copy of their beloved Spot or Socks after the original one dies. But this appears to be the first company aimed at using genetic engineering to come up with pets with new traits. Other efforts at genetically altering animals have goals like making goats that produce drugs in their milk or making salmon grow faster than normal.

But the allergen-free cat could raise the dander of some cat lovers and certainly of those opposed to genetic engineering, who will no doubt dub it "Frankencat" and view it `as an unwarranted interference in nature.

"It's sick," said Maria Alfaro, a yoga teacher from Santa Cruz, California, who is protesting this week outside the biotechnology industry's annual convention in San Diego.

Carol Barbee, president of the American Cat Fanciers Association, said many people would welcome such cats, provided the genetic modification did not harm the animal in some other way. "If they end up with something that's not a cat, that's not fine," she said.

The Avners defend their effort. "These are animals that are going to be loved and cherished and will bring joy," said Jackie Avner, David Avner's wife, who also works at the company. Both Avners are allergic to cats, as is their five-year-old daughter.

Avner said that since the cats would not be for consumption, they raise few public safety and regulatory concerns and would in fact be safer than taking allergy medications, as some cat owners now do. Also, the cats would be spayed or neutered so the allergen-free trait would not spread to other cats and so the company could protect its investment.

The company said it planned to sell the cats for US$750 to US$1,000 apiece, roughly in line with the prices paid for some pure breeds.

But the company has not yet raised the US$2 million it must pay Yang for the research. Avner will speak to potential investors Tuesday at a forum for young companies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Scientists believe that most allergic reactions to cats are caused by a single protein that is secreted to help keep the cat's skin moist. The gene for this protein, known as fel d1, was isolated and sequenced years ago.
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