Veterinarian Richard Burroughs Fired By FDA For Opposing Approval of rBGH
Veterinarian Richard Burroughs got caught in a Monsanto storm at the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) from 1985 to 1989 when he was given the task of assessing a genetically modified bovine growth hormone called somatotropin produced using recombinant DNA technology. The hormone, carrying the brand name Posilac, is also known as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) or recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH).
Burroughs joined the FDA in 1979, specialized in cow health, and was the first FDA scientist to review a genetically modified medicine produced by Monsanto. Monsanto's laboratories supplied Burroughs with research in 1985, the year they applied for approval. Although the Monsanto studies demonstrated that cows injected with Posilac, artificially increased their milk production by 10 to 15 percent, there was no data concerning side effects. Burroughs required Monsanto to reproduce their studies over a period of three cycles delaying a possible approval by at least three years. Monsanto agreed to the studies that confirmed rBGH injections increased mastitis in cows treated with Posilac. In early 1988, When Burroughs reported the mastitis and his skepticism about Monsanto's scientific methods to his superiors, R.P. Lehmann, the Director of the medicines division of CVM, wrote to Monsanto's Terrence Harvey advising him that the Monsanto application was incomplete (Note: Terrence Harvey, D.V.M., was director of the CVM from 1980 to 1982 and was later hired by Monsanto and appointed director of regulatory affairs).
Following Lehmann's letter to Terrence Harvey, Richard Burrough's was gradually removed from the FDA's rBGH project and later refused access to new research. On November 3, 1989, he was fired by the FDA for "incompetence." Burroughs sued the FDA for unfair dismissal and won. However, he was reinstated to the CVM's pig department where he lacked qualifications. During this time, Monsanto lawyers visited Burroughs to warn him that he would be sued if he communicated any information about rGBH. He later resigned.
Burroughs joined the FDA in 1979, specialized in cow health, and was the first FDA scientist to review a genetically modified medicine produced by Monsanto. Monsanto's laboratories supplied Burroughs with research in 1985, the year they applied for approval. Although the Monsanto studies demonstrated that cows injected with Posilac, artificially increased their milk production by 10 to 15 percent, there was no data concerning side effects. Burroughs required Monsanto to reproduce their studies over a period of three cycles delaying a possible approval by at least three years. Monsanto agreed to the studies that confirmed rBGH injections increased mastitis in cows treated with Posilac. In early 1988, When Burroughs reported the mastitis and his skepticism about Monsanto's scientific methods to his superiors, R.P. Lehmann, the Director of the medicines division of CVM, wrote to Monsanto's Terrence Harvey advising him that the Monsanto application was incomplete (Note: Terrence Harvey, D.V.M., was director of the CVM from 1980 to 1982 and was later hired by Monsanto and appointed director of regulatory affairs).
Following Lehmann's letter to Terrence Harvey, Richard Burrough's was gradually removed from the FDA's rBGH project and later refused access to new research. On November 3, 1989, he was fired by the FDA for "incompetence." Burroughs sued the FDA for unfair dismissal and won. However, he was reinstated to the CVM's pig department where he lacked qualifications. During this time, Monsanto lawyers visited Burroughs to warn him that he would be sued if he communicated any information about rGBH. He later resigned.