Animal-derived pharmaceutical proteins

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Animal models
• Biopharmaceutical production

Background:

• Livestock animals have historically contributed to human health through therapeutic products.
• Animal-derived therapeutics, such as insulin and antibodies, face challenges including immunogenicity and biosafety.
• Invertebrates and lower vertebrates offer small-peptide therapeutics, while farm animals serve as models for surgical strategies and tissue replacements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical and emerging roles of animals in human health and biopharmaceutical production.
• To highlight the advantages of transgenic animal technology over traditional methods.
• To discuss the potential of gene farming in addressing limitations of current biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on animal-derived therapeutics and biotechnology.
• Analysis of the applications of farm animals as models and sources for medical treatments.
• Examination of gene farming and transgenic animal technology for biopharmaceutical production.

Main Results:

• Farm animals are sources of essential therapeutics like insulin, gelatin, and antibodies.
• Transgenic animals, such as cows, can efficiently produce biopharmaceuticals like human growth hormone.
• Gene farming offers superior efficiency compared to microbial or cell-culture systems.

Conclusions:

• Animals remain indispensable for human health, providing both traditional therapeutics and advanced biopharmaceutical products.
• Transgenic animal technology promises to overcome key challenges in biopharmaceutical production, including cost, safety, and availability.
• The future of biopharmaceuticals is significantly enhanced by harnessing animals as bioreactors through advanced genetic engineering.