[Clinical importance of human plasma proteins and their future development]

For more than 50 years now, proteins based on human blood plasma are used as drugs. More than 20 different protein preparations: Albumin, immunoglobulins, coagulation factors and inhibitors are currently available for substitution therapy. In the near future, antihemophilic globulins and perhaps Factor IX, too, will be produced by genetic engineering, independent from human blood plasma. Albumin and immunoglobulins as well as a number of plasma proteins for which only a small field of indication exists will continue to be produced from blood plasma. On a long-term basis, part of the immunoglobulins with special antibody titers will be replaced by human monoclonal antibodies.