[Therapeutic applications of genetic engineering]

Technical developments of genetic engineering have been revealed especially interesting in the human therapeutic field. Techniques for gene transfer have been improved to introduce synthetic sequences into the cellular genomes. Candidate cells and culture systems have been screened for their capacity to synthesise the proper recombinant molecules. In the nearest future, high biotechnologies should provide a great quantity of recombinant products, covering a high variety of diseases (clotting factors, cytokines, hormones, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, thrombolytics). This tendency has been largely initiated, and is accompanied by the quick development of basic sciences such as glycobiology and molecular biology, together with the development of a specific regulatory environment. Besides, genetic engineering offers new therapeutic outlets: transgenic animals, genic therapy, antisense technology.