Drug from genetically altered animals

The US-FDA has approved the first drug produced by genetically engineered live-stock. The drug, meant to prevent fatal blood clots, is a protein extracted from the milk of goats that have been given a human gene. The drug is made by a company called GTC Biotherapeutics, which claims that one of its DNA-altered goats can produce as much antithrombin in a year as can be derived from 90,000 blood donations!

Use of the animals as drug factories is something not liked by animal rights activists. More major concern is the possible cross contamination of the food chain and cross- breeding of these animals with normal animals. Results may not be predictable.

It is high time to organize public debates on the ethical and medico-legal aspect of this type of research, and to establish national regulatory frameworks for providing guidelines for the research and to address the public concerns.