Xenotransplantation committee holds first meeting

The Secretary of HHS's Advisory Committee on Xenotransplantation held its first meeting on Tuesday. The newly formed 18-member committee will advise FDA, NIH and other public health agencies about public health issues raised by xenotransplantation, as well as associated scientific, medical, social and ethical issues. Its charge includes reviewing existing and proposed xenotransplantation clinical trials, advising HHS on the potential for transmission of infectious diseases as a consequence of xenotransplantation and recommending changes to the Public Health Service's Guidelines on Infectious Disease Issues in Xenotransplantation.

Committee members touched on several issues that the panel is likely to explore in future meetings, including the need for international regulation of xenotransplantation, FDA's proposal to disclose information about xenotransplantation INDs and funding for long-term storage of biological samples from xenotransplantation recipients. One committee member, Daniel Salomon, Associate Professor, Scipps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, said he is aware of at least two "rogue" xenotransplantation centers in other countries that could be exposing patients and the public to pathogens. ...