PB et al.
More good news from one of my favorites:
TITLE: Genzyme Transgenics, Advanced Cell Technology To Develop Therapeutic Products Using Cloned Transgenic Cattle
DATE: October 7, 1997
Genzyme Transgenics Corporation (Nasdaq:GZTC) and Advanced Cell Technology,
Inc., Worcester, Mass., today announced that they have reached an agreement to
produce human therapeutic proteins in the milk of cloned transgenic cattle.
The collaboration, worth at least $10 million, combines Genzyme Transgenics?
capabilities in expressing human proteins in the milk of transgenic animals
with Advanced Cell Technology?s proprietary techniques for producing cloned
bovine embryos. Advanced Cell Technology has filed for extensive patent
rights related to its technology which includes novel methods for culturing
types of bovine fetal fibroblast cells ? a type of cell found in connective
tissue. Several of its cows are currently pregnant with cloned transgenic
calves.
Genzyme Transgenics believes that Advanced Cell Technology?s cloning
technology offers a potentially more efficient way of producing transgenic
dairy animals. Current transgenic production methods involve injecting a
gene of interest into a fertilized egg. Only five to 10 percent of the
animals born from this procedure will be transgenic, and it takes several
generations to develop a sizable herd of transgenic animals using this
method. Several of the transgenic animals produced this way will be male,
and thus will not be milk producers.
Advanced Cell Technology?s cloning technology involves transferring a gene of
interest into cells in culture. The nuclei from many of those cells are
transferred into egg cells from which the nucleus has been removed. The
resulting embryos are then implanted into surrogate mothers. All of the
embryos transferred into the surrogate mothers are female, and therefore are
milk producers.
By combining the two technologies, Genzyme Transgenics can produce in a single
generation a herd of animals that is both transgenic and female and therefore
can produce a protein of interest in their milk.
The first product to be produced under the agreement using Advanced Cell
Technology?s proprietary method of nuclear transfer technology will be human
serum albumin, a protein currently derived from pooled human plasma that is
used therapeutically to maintain osmotic pressure in the blood.
Approximately 440 metric tons of plasma-derived albumin are used annually
worldwide, with annual sales of approximately $1.5 billion.
Advanced Cell Technology?s cloning methods will be used to develop transgenic
cattle for the program announced earlier this year in which Genzyme Transgenics
is developing transgenically produced recombinant human albumin as a safer and
more cost-effective substitute for the plasma-derived product. An individual
dairy cow is expected to produce approximately 80 kilograms of recombinant
human albumin annually.
The exclusive collaboration between Genzyme Transgenics and Advanced Cell
Technology provides for the production of recombinant human therapeutic
proteins in the milk of cloned cows. Subject to the achievement of milestones,
Genzyme Trangenics has committed to providing Advanced Cell Technology with at
least $10 million in funding over the next five years from current and
anticipated collaborations between Genzyme Transgenics and other biotechnology
and pharmaceutical companies.
Steve Parkinson, Advanced Cell Technology?s president and chief executive
officer, said, "We are very pleased to be working with the market leader in
the production of proteins using transgenic technology. This agreement
validates the power of cloning technology as a tool to bring important
therapeutics to market."
James A. Geraghty, president and chief executive officer of Genzyme
Transgenics, stated, "The combination of Genzyme Transgenics? expertise in
transgenic technology and Advanced Cell Technology?s proprietary,
non-reproductive cell-based cloning methods will further the more rapid
commercialization of transgenic pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. We
believe that Advanced Cell Technology is uniquely capable of executing
transgenic cloning projects in dairy cattle."
Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. is engaged in the research and development of
proprietary technologies enabling the genetic manipulation of cells to produce
cloned transgenic animals for applications in cell transplant therapy, organ
transplantation, and pharmaceutical protein production.
Genzyme Transgenics is a biotechnology company focused on biopharmaceutical
development through transgenic production of genetically engineered
therapeutic products; specialized contract research services for
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and other companies; and the
production of cancer vaccines. Genzyme General (Nasdaq:GENZ) owns
approximately 43 percent of the outstanding stock of Genzyme Transgenics.
This news release contains forward-looking information, including statements
about the production of a recombinant product in the milk of cloned dairy
cattle, the potential for commercialization of transgenic albumin, the
cost-effectiveness of this product, its safety relative to blood-sourced
product, and the ability to produce albumin at sufficient levels in the milk
of cloned transgenic cows.
Actual results may differ materially from these projections due to a number of
factors including the content and timing of decisions made by regulatory
agencies worldwide, Genzyme Transgenics? and Advanced Cell Technology?s
ability to successfully complete this development program, and the accuracy of
information about the competitive environment, market sizes, and market
acceptance of the product. |
