The potential dangers of gene therapy have been answered.
All pharmaceuticals, whether GM-derived or not, are subjected to stringent scrutiny for efficacy and safety before they can be approved for marketing. Countless people have benefited since the first genetically engineered drug was approved in 1982.
Biopharming can present risks in the absence of appropriate measures. Gene flows (i.e. transfers of DNA from one population to another) and human errors can result in the contamination of conventional crops and accidental releases of pharm crops into the food supply. These undesirable effects can be minimized by using self-pollinating crops such as rice and flax to avoid gene flows, or non-food crops such as tobacco.
It is difficult to establish the absolute safety of any new technologies and GM technology is no exception. However, with proper regulatory safeguards, it is possible to derive benefits without compromising on safety.