Cows offer potential new source of human antibodies

Published: 1-May-2003


Scientists have reported the successful application of proprietary cloning techniques to produce four calves that express a human chromosome fragment coding for the broad range of human antibodies. The research was the result of an ongoing joint effort between US company Hematech and Kirin Brewery to develop a system for the production of human polyclonal antibody-based therapeutics. This marks the first step in the development of a large-scale system for producing human polyclonal antibodies that could be used to prevent and/or treat a wide variety of diseases, including antibiotic resistant infections, autoimmune diseases, cancer and diseases resulting from bioterrorism.

Currently there is a substantial need for immunoglobulin, or broad-spectrum human polyclonal antibodies, for the treatment of many immune system disorders. However, the supply is limited to that which can be obtained from human donors and the application is limited because human donors cannot be optimally immunised.

'A bovine system for the production of human polyclonal antibodies would be fast and easily scalable to tons of product,' said Dr James Robl, president and chief scientific officer of Hematech. 'A cow carrying complete human antibody genes could simply be immunised against the target disease agent and human antibodies could be collected in a couple of months.'

Meanwhile, the company has been awarded US$3.3m (€3.1m) in government funding to develop a bovine system for producing human polyclonal antibodies against botulinum neurotoxins, which pose a major bioweapons threat. The three-year contract was awarded to Hematech through DynPort Vaccine Company (DVC), a joint venture between DynCorp and Porton International.

'The support and funding provided through this contract will enable Hematech to expand the development of its Transchromo bovine antibody production system to include the production of neutralising human antibodies against botulinum neurotoxins,' said James Barton, ceo of Hematech.

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