Health Japan to fight hayfever with transgenic rice

[thomas]

Part of the economic stimulus measures being drawn up by the Japanese government is the development of a genetically modified rice variety that can alleviate hay fever symptoms when consumed. The government aims to commence clinical trials of the transgenic rice, which will be powdered and processed into tablets or capsules, in fiscal 2024, with plans to commercialize the drug within the next ten years.

Since fiscal 2000, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has been working on developing the rice produced by genetically modifying rice crops to contain peptides from Japanese cedar pollen allergens. Allergies to the pollen, causing symptoms such as runny nose and itchy eyes, are estimated to affect more than 40 percent of the population in Japan, according to an Environment Ministry survey. [...] The government is also considering collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to develop the transgenic rice. Other initiatives in its comprehensive policy package to tackle hay fever include subsidies for purchases of advanced machinery to fell artificial cedar forests, as well as assistance to replace cedar trees with a species that releases less pollen and improve cedar timber distribution facilities.

Hay fever-fighting rice to be part of Japan's economic stimulus - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan is set to financially support the development of a genetically modified rice that can alleviate hay fever symptoms when consume

mainichi.jp