Haemophilic Factors Produced by Transgenic Livestock: Abundance that can enable alternative therapies worldwide

Authors

Kevin E. Van Cott, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Paul E. Monahan, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow
Timothy C. Nichols, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow
William H. Velander, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

10-1-2004

Comments

Reprinted from Haemophilia, volume 10, suppl.4 (October 2004), 70–76 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2516.2004.00983.x ‘The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com'.

Abstract

Haemophilia replacement factors, both plasma-derived and recombinant, are in relatively short supply and are high-cost products. This has stymied the study and development of alternative methods of administration of haemophilia therapy even in the most economically advanced countries, owing to the large amounts of material needed because bioabsorption and bioavailability of haemophilic factors can be less than 10% when using non-intravenous routes of delivery. There is therefore a need to increase access to therapy worldwide by decreasing the cost and increasing the abundance so that therapy can be achieved through simplified, alternative delivery methods. Transgenic livestock have been used to produce haemophilic factors in milk. Only the pig mammary gland has been shown to carry out the post-translational processing necessary to enable both the biological activity and long circulation half-life needed for therapeutic glycoproteins. Furthermore, the large amounts of recombinant protein that can be produced from pig milk make feasible the use of alternative delivery methods such as oral, intratracheal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular administration.