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GENETIC TECHNOLOGY:Opportunities and risks
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Münchener Rück Management Symposium / 
Gen-Letter 01
SEITE 1IMMER DAS THEMA
Wieviel Wissenverkraften wir?
SOLL FAMILIENANGEHÖRI-GEN DAS ERGEBNIS EINESGENTESTSAUTOMATISCH MITGETEILTWERDEN?Erkrankungen mit genetischerVeranlagung wie Alzheimeroder Brustkrebskönnen auch Familienan-gehörige betreffen. Einigesspricht daher dafür, ihnendie Ergebnisse von Gentestsautomatisch mitzuteilen. Denk-bar ist jedoch, daßder Patient dies nicht wünschtund u.U. lebensentscheidendes Wissen für sichbehalten will.WOLLEN WIR NUR NOCH PERFEKTE KINDER?In wenigen Jahren wird es medizinisch zumindest möglich sein, die Eigenschaftenungeborener Kinder genetisch zu durchleuchten, vielleicht sogar zu verändern.Theoretisch wäre es dann möglich, Wunschkinder im Reagenzglas zu kreieren.Setzt sich diese Technik durch, würden Menschen, die behindert sind oder aufandere Weise von der »Norm« abweichen, möglicherweise noch mehr als heute zuAußenseitern. Fortpflanzung würde zu einer Art Shoppingerfahrung, Eltern zu kühlplanenden Architekten der nächsten Generation.KÖNNEN WIR UNS GESUNDHEIT NOCH LEISTEN?Gentechnik ermöglicht intelligentere, individuell auf Patienten zugeschnittene Medi-kamente. Ihre Entwicklung ist aber sehr teuer, und Biotech-Firmen suchenihre Forschungsergebnisse zunehmend durch Patente zu sichern. Gesundheit wirddadurch in Zukunft vermutlich ein noch exklusiveres Gu. Sozial Schwachen bliebendie intelligenten Pillen verwehrt.
 
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MünchenerRückMunichReGroup
GENETIC TECHNOLOGY:Opportunities and risks
 
THE FUTURE WILL NOT WAIT FOR US
DR. DETLEF SCHNEIDAWIND, MEMBER OF MUNICH RE’S BOARD OF MANAGEMENT, ONOPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS OF GENETIC TECHNOLOGY
“The fear of presumed risks clouds our view of potentially valuableopportunities for mankind. This is regrettable – for all of us. Forinsurers, however, the effects of not fully understanding the technologycan be catastrophic.”
 
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GENETIC TECHNOLOGY:Opportunities and risks
It is a frequent story when something new emerges:Innovation gives rise to hopes but also to fears andcriticism, and discussion frequently passes fromthe objective to the emotional. With the currentrevolution in genetic technology we are again wit-ness to this phenomenon. But this time the con-cerns are even greater than those spawned by ear-lier advances in technology because of the incred-ible speed at which genetic technology is develop-ing and the doubt that it is casting upon the mostfundamental certainties of our existence. To whatdegree are we human beings allowed to intervenein evolution? What defines health? Where does ill-ness begin? How long can we live?It is no surprise that we may often lose sight of thefacts in light of these and other ethical and moralconsiderations. In many cases, the fear of pre-sumed risks clouds our view of potentially valuableopportunities for mankind. This is regrettable – forall of us. For insurers, however, the effects of notfully understanding the technology can be cata-strophic. Regardless of our personal opinions, thisbudding, barely 25-year-old technology is alreadyexerting a considerable influence on our businesstoday. Imminent dramatic changes in medicine inthe form of genetic diagnosis, gene therapy andpharmacogenetics raise completely new questionsfor life and health insurers. Presymptomatic andpredictive genetic testing is only one of manyaspects of the developing technology. A frequentlyoverlooked fact is that liability insurers must alsobe prepared to meet unexpected challenges in theagriculture and food industries, as well as in thepharmaceutical industry, not only with regard torisk assessment and questions of coverage, butalso with regard to possible long-term claims. Inthis connection, the Swiss Executive Federal Coun-cil recently extended the statute of limitation forclaims related to the release of genetically modifiedorganisms (GMOs) or from their use in productsto30 years to allow claims for damages to be filed inthe next generation as well.For insurers it is high time that we ask ourselvessome questions, namely, “How do we react?”, orbetter still, “How do we act?” with regard to theevolving technology, “How great is the risk in thisdevelopmental period?”, “What is the long-termclaims potential?”, “What new business potentialmay be evolving here?”.Munich Re already began dealing with these ques-tions at an early stage. Together with our clientswe have come up with a variety of initial solutions.The risks associated with this technology of thefuture cannot be avoided, it is rather a question ofidentifying and quantifying them. Only in this waywill it be possible to capitalize in a truly responsiblemanner on opportunities that genetic technologywill offer, and these will surely far surpass the riskpotential. Knowledge of risks and dealing with risksis one of Munich Re’s key areas of expertise andone in which we endeavour to demonstrate to ourclients both proficiency and innovative skills. Thisis ultimately of benefit to all human beings whowill gain from this fascinating technology in thefuture.
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