A Critical Analysis of the Scientific and Commercial Rationales for the <italic toggle="yes">De Novo</italic> Synthesis of Horsepox Virus

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article evaluates the scientific and commercial rationales for the synthesis of horsepox virus. I find that the claimed benefits of using horsepox virus as a smallpox vaccine rest on a weak scientific foundation and an even weaker business case that this project will lead to a licensed medical countermeasure. The combination of questionable benefits and known risks of this dual use research raises serious questions about the wisdom of undertaking research that could be used to recreate variola virus. This analysis also raises important questions about the propriety of a private company sponsoring such dual use research without appropriate oversight and highlights an important gap in United States dual use research regulations.

Keywords

• DNA synthesis
• biosecurity
• dual use research
• horsepox
• smallpox
• synthetic biology