Nigel Poole head of external regulatory affairs at Zeneca Plant Science in
Bracknell, Berkshire:
鈥淏ritain could be classed as number two in biotechnology in the world, after
the US, but it鈥檚 clinging on by its fingertips. These witch-hunts are crazy. I
feel quite emotional about this at the moment. We still believe in the UK, but
God knows why.鈥�
George Poste chief science and technology officer with the Anglo-American
drugs giant SmithKline Beecham, based in Philadelphia:
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鈥淭he hysteria we鈥檝e seen can be used as a springboard to go after other
aspects of gene research. Press and public opinion influence legislation and
legislation influences whether a company invests. The overall climate of
tolerance for extremes of the anti-technological movement is taken into
补肠肠辞耻苍迟.鈥�
Chris Evans founder of Merlin Ventures and Britain鈥檚 leading biotech
entrepreneur:
鈥淲e鈥檙e collectively being demonised as Frankenstein鈥檚 assistants. It鈥檚
becoming silly, like Salem witch-hunts. We must raise money, but people who buy
shares are affected by what they read. It could limit options for raising funds
for the medical side of the industry.鈥�
Bill Fullagar president of the British arm of the Swiss-based multinational
Novartis, a major producer of pharmaceuticals and GM crops:
鈥淎nything like what we鈥檝e seen go on in the last week must put pressure on
the authorities. This can lead to decisions that stop companies from investing.
We are a global company. Britain is not the only place where you can do
research: there鈥檚 the whole of North America and the whole of Europe.鈥�
Jeremy Curnock Cook head of the Rothschild Bioscience Unit in London,
responsible for funds worth some $500 million:
鈥淚t will harm investment in the UK. Ultimately, investors don鈥檛 differentiate
between the elements of the sector. No one will care whether it鈥檚 GM crops or
丑别补濒迟丑肠补谤别.鈥�