Thursday, February 12, 2009

FDA approves drug from genetically-altered animals

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug made with materials from genetically-engineered animals.
According to the New York Times, the drug is produced by livestock that have been given a human gene. GTC Biotherapeutics said regulators cleared its drug, ATryn, which is manufactured using milk from goats that have been scientifically-altered to produce extra antithrombin, a protein that acts as a natural blood thinner.
The FDA said it cleared the drug to treat patients with a rare hereditary disorder that causes a deficiency of the protein, putting them at higher risk of deadly blood clots. Genetically engineered, or GE, animals are not clones but rather animals that have had their DNA changed.

No comments:

Post a Comment