Biohackers have said they 've produced a low - cost copy of $ 1m - per - treatment gene - therapy called Glybera . It had been approved for sufferers of a rare blood disease , lipoprotein lipase deficiency . But it was withdrawn by manufacturer UniQure because it was n’t considered cost - effective . The independent and amateur biologists who produced the copy said they wanted to collaborate with others to develop their work . Some commentators have criticised their work , while others say patients have no choice because of the original 's high costs . The copy could infringe UniQure ’s intellectual property rights , however , and the US FDA has banned DIY gene supplies .
Biohackers have said they've produced a low-cost copy of $1m-per-treatment gene-therapy drug Glybera. It had been approved for sufferers of a rare blood disease, lipoprotein lipase deficiency. But Glybera was withdrawn by manufacturer UniQure because it wasn’t considered cost-effective. The independent and amateur biologists who developed the copy said they want to collaborate with scientists to develop their work. Some commentators have criticised their work, while others say patients have no choice because of the original's high costs. The copy could infringe UniQure’s intellectual property rights, however, and the US FDA has banned DIY gene supplies.