Genetically modified hens lay eggs that are expected to help the drug

A genetically modified hen lays eggs rich in proteins that are key ingredients needed for some drug production and are expected to be used to produce specific drugs at a lower cost in the future, according to a study published by the University of Edinburgh.
In the study, a team led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh intended to use eggs from genetically modified hens to obtain proteins for scientific research, but they eventually found that the proteins were as reliable as those produced in the industry using existing methods and could be used in drug production.The
team reported in the British journal Biomedical Center Biotechnology that they initially focused on two therapeutic proteins that are closely related to the body's immune system: interferon alpha2a, which has strong antiviral and cancer resistance, and macrophage-CSF, which helps develop treatments that stimulate self-healing of damaged tissue.
industry's existing methods of obtaining pharmaceutical proteins are relatively expensive and unstable, the new method uses a simple purification system to efficiently obtain the required protein from eggs from genetically modified hens.
estimates that a hen can produce about 300 eggs a year, while three eggs can provide the same protein as a dose of the drug, so this approach has great potential to reduce pharmaceutical costs.
researchers say that while they have not yet used the technology to produce drugs that humans can use, research has shown that it is feasible for large-scale commercial production.
, author of the paper and a professor at the University of Edinburgh, said the technology offered hope for the treatment of human diseases and the team would focus on developing it to make the most of its medicinal value. (Source: Zhang Jiawei, Xinhua News Agency)