Bio-Tech Firm Claims To Produce Allergy-Free Kittens (Cost: $3,950)

[matcom]

<snip>

For allergic cat lovers, a San Diego company's claim to have produced the world's first kittens that are virtually free of allergy-producing proteins is nothing to sneeze at.

Allerca, a self-described biotechnology company, began soliciting cat fanciers last month to fork out an eye-watering minimum of $3,950 to “pre-purchase” one of its kittens. And even though Allerca says it will take up to two years to deliver the pets, the company predicts demand will soon reach 10,000 kittens a year.

But despite Allerca's entrepreneurial zeal, questions about the company's finances, its ability to deliver what it has promised and the track record of founder Simon Brodie might give prospective pet owners pause, according to court records and interviews with former Allerca associates.

For instance, Allerca was evicted in February from its San Diego headquarters – which was also Brodie's residence – in the downtown 777 Sixth Avenue Lofts complex for nonpayment of rent, according to court records. In addition, Allerca, Brodie and other Brodie-affiliated companies have accumulated tens of thousands of dollars in bad debt in recent years.

Some scientists and cat breeders also have raised questions about Allerca's technology and business plan. The company has yet to provide proof of its genomics accomplishment – such as a scientific paper published in a peer-reviewed journal – and the scale of its enterprise seems far-fetched, some say.

In response to a list of questions about Allerca and other Brodie-owned or associated companies, as well as a request for an interview with Brodie, Allerca spokeswoman Samia Lavenant said no one with the company would comment.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060716/news_1n16allerca.html

[LynneSin]

1. For $4k, I'd rather adopt from the SPCA and use the remaining money

to pay for allegery shots

[LSK]

2. i didnt know kittens had allergies

:popcorn: