Medical company hits back at misinformation
A Nelson biotechnology company has hit back at claims, circulating on social media, that the laboratory it is building could put the community at risk.
A number of posts on local Facebook groups shared the news of Kimer Med’s new lab, accompanied by speculation that viruses could be released on the Nelson populace.
“A leak from such a lab could be a catastrophe and could introduce either of these tropical diseases into NZ,” one post said.
Kimer Med chief executive Rick Kiessig said the claims were inaccurate and misleading, and they spread “unnecessary fear and confusion”.
Social media posts claimed the company was bringing tropical diseases into the country, importing mosquitoes, making vaccines and using mRNA technology, creating viruses for release, and producing bioweapons.
“With all these incorrect claims being made … I am not surprised that people are worried,” Kiessig said.
In fact, Kimer Med’s work focused on developing antiviral drugs for diseases that included dengue fever and Zika.
According to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control, about 400 million people are infected with the mosquito-borne dengue virus each year and 21,000 deaths are attributed to the disease.
In 2023, Kimer Med announced a major milestone in the battle against these diseases.
Antivirals are designed to be used after someone is infected – unlike vaccines, which require use well before infection, he said.
To allow its work to grow, the company had leased a former factory and would be fitting it out with a PC-2 (physical containment level 2) lab, a pilot plant and offices.
The company was not creating viruses or vaccines, using mRNA technology, or doing anything related to the Gene Technology Bill, Kiessig said.
The compounds the startup was creating were proteins, which were tested overseas.
Kimer Med was not working with mosquitoes, and it did not test products on mice or other animals, Kiessig said.
Scientists worked in controlled conditions, monitored by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
“Suggestions that ‘a leak from such a lab could be a catastrophe and could introduce either of these tropical diseases into NZ’ is misleading and unhelpful.”
Kimer Med was founded in 2020 by Rick Kiessig and Phil Oliver and funded by an Australian investor.
Based in Nelson, the company employs six locals and has just completed a fundraising round, gaining a few shareholders.
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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