Pig breeding facility for xenotransplantation opens in NZ

New Zealand-based biotechnology company, Living Cell Technologies (LCT), has opened a new pig breeding facility in Invercargill on the southern tip of New Zealand's south island today.

The facility will be formally commissioned and pigs transferred in the next few weeks, according to a company statement.

The facility will breed pigs that will harvested for insulin-producing cells that will be transplanted into human patients as part of a trial to treat type 1 diabetes using LCT's DiabeCell technology.

The trial will be conducted in Auckland following a nod by the New Zealand government to allow xenotransplantation research to be conducted there on June 19. Such research is currently banned in Australia by the federal government.

The new facility is designed to meet health regulations for pig herds used as a source of medical grade tissues and will breed specially selected pigs free from pathogens, says LCT Founder and medical director, professor Bob Elliott.

“LCT’s pigs originate from the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands and are disease free. The new unit ensures that they remain free of viruses, bacteria and parasites.”

The facility was formally opened by the Mayor of Invercargill, Mr Tim Shadbolt.