(JP)Kirin to sell drug from cows in U.S. markets

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http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20030103wo78.htm

 

Kirin to sell drug from cows in U.S. markets

03 JAN 2003

 

Yomiuri Shimbun

 

Kirin Brewery Co. is developing a next-generation

antibotic from human antibodies extracted from

unpasteurized cow's milk and is planning to begin

selling the product on the U.S. markets in 2013,

company sources said Tuesday.

 

According to the sources, the finished product may

help treat a wide variety of diseases, including those

caused by Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus

aureus--a type of bacteria, hepatitis C, rheumatism

and Kawasaki disease--a leading cause of acquired

heart disease in children.

 

They added the company expects to make tens of

billions of yen in sales of the product.

 

Humans have antibodies that protect the body from

disease-causing bacteria and viruses. However, Kirin

Brewery has succeeded in artificially creating human

antibodies in the body of cows, using its patented

" human artificial chromosome vector " DNA technology.

 

The company had previously succeeded in extracting

human antibodies from the blood of mice, but found

that it could extract larger quantities of the

antibodies by milking cows carrying the antibodies.

 

The company is already capable of breeding human

antibodies in the bloodstreams of cows, and the

sources said it expects to be able to extract

antibodies from cow's milk within the year.

 

They added that the milk produced by a single cow in

one year could produce enough medication to treat

2,000 to 4,000 people with infectious diseases.

 

Copyright 2003 The Yomiuri Shimbun

 

 

 

 

 

 

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