Strong denials yesterday that an American company using gene technology is setting up here. An Australian report said Sierra Sciences and BioViva USA has set up an anti-ageing clinic

by jyoti pratibha,suva

Strong denials yesterday that an American company using gene technology is setting up here.

An Australian report said Sierra Sciences and BioViva USA has set up an anti-ageing clinic in Fiji.

It is believed that this company uses gene technology as a means of anti-ageing.

However, local authorities have confirmed that the company has not sought any permission from any regulatory agencies to set up a company in Fiji.

No agency such as the Lands Department, Investment Fiji amongst others have any records of any application done by Sierra Sciences and BioViva USA.

It has also been confirmed that no such company has been set up in Fiji.

Questions had been emailed to the company, which remained unanswered when this edition went to press.

The company’s announcement on its new clinic here has been widely reported in Australian media who have also raised questions about the technology used by it.

ABC reported Australian experts have said that the methods of the company are ‘untested’ and that the outcomes are ‘far-fetched’.

They further quoted the founder of the company William Andrews saying that they have started a new company called BioViva Fiji in Fiji and are “now building a large-scale production facility and a clinic to soon be able to provide a gene-therapy approach towards curing ageing.

“We have every anticipation of having it done before the end of this year.”

According to ABC, there are allegations Fiji may have been chosen to host the facility simply to circumvent US regulatory oversight.

It further stated that in a video released in May, BioViva USA’s chief executive officer, Elizabeth Parrish, said: “Current regulatory authorities have overstepped their remit and the development of medicine has become over-regulated.”

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj