 |
Biotechnology is responsible for a large increase in the number of
approved medicines called "protein drugs," and for an even larger
increase in the number of protein therapeutics now being used in
clinical trials. Many human therapeutics, such as monoclonal
antibodies used to treat cancer, require correct configuration and
animal-specific modifications to be effective. This means that the
production of many human protein drugs cannot be carried out in
bacteria or plants, but rather is confined to the cells of
mammals. Mammalian cell culture, however, is very expensive and
low yields limit the amount and number of different proteins that
can be developed. Consequently, researchers are attempting to
address this problem by producing therapeutic proteins in the milk
of domestic farm animals. The major function of the milk-producing
mammary gland is to produce proteins. Transgenic animals - that is
animals carrying an additional segment of DNA encoding the
therapeutic protein - produce this one additional protein in their
milk. These animals and their milk are not intended to enter the
food supply, but rather to produce these potentially life-saving
proteins in their milk. With hundreds of protein therapeutics
currently in clinical trials, transgenic animals may become an
important source of these protein drugs as they become available
to the patient.
Companies using
Transgenic Biotechnology
GTC Biotherapeutics
(Goats)
|
