COMMERCIALIZATION OF PROTEINS PRODUCED IN THE MAMMARY-GLAND

In the mid 1980's, a few pioneering companies undertook the risk of de veloping methodologies for the production of complex human therapeutic proteins in the milk of transgenic animals. As we approach the end of the 1990's, the prospect of achieving this aim is becoming a reality as the first of these human therapeutic products, antithrombin III and alpha-l-antitrypsin are making their way through human clinical trial s. It is projected that licensure by the Regulatory agencies and marke t launch for these transgenically produced therapeutics will occur aro und the year 2000. Although much has already been achieved, additional transgenic challenges await the basic embryo researcher and practitio ner. The biopharming community recognizes the need for additional inno vative methodologies (such as cloning, sperm sexing and retroviral med iated gene transfer etc.) to overcome the natural biological barriers and increase the efficiency of transgenic dairy animal production and rapid herd expansion. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc.