The future of plasma derivatives.
In the early 1980s, the advent of recombinant DNA technology provided the perspective of an unlimited supply of recombinant plasma proteins. However, the cost of mammalian cell expression, downstream processing, and the development time of biotechnological pharmaceuticals have generally been underestimated. Despite the initial optimism that plasma derivatives would soon become obsolete, no more than three plasma proteins have been licensed for therapeutic use since that time. The current situation favours a reappraisal of plasma derivatives, which nowadays can meet safety standards similar to those of recombinant products. In terms of cost, human blood has the further advantage over biotechnological sources in that it allows the production of multiple pharmaceutical proteins from one single material. This provides a favourable starting point for exploring the therapeutic potential of the numerous plasma proteins that have remained unused so far.
Mertens
K
K
Department of Plasma Proteins, CLB, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. k_mertens@clb.nl
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016527:Drug Costs; D004341:Drug Evaluation / Q000191:economics; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000191:economics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000191:economics / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012449:Safety; D013675:Technology, High-Cost / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends
D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D001798:Blood Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins