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Recombinant DNA technology may enable oral delivery of protein drugs
May 6 – Researchers at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy have successfully demonstrated gastrointestinal absorption of a protein based drug, suggesting that many drugs that require direct injection into the bloodstream may now be administered orally. The team formed a recombinant DNA structure from the G-CSF gene that expresses a protein that stimulates white blood cell production and transferrin, a protein found in blood plasma that binds to receptors on intestinal epithelial cells. The fusion protein, half transferrin and half G-CSF, was harvested via cell culture and tested on mice. Oral administration was shown to stimulate white blood cell production for three days, compared to the injectable agent which held effectiveness for one day. As the recombinant therapeutic utilises human proteins, no unwanted immune response is induced. USC holds the patent to the new recombinant protein technology.
[Source: EurekAlert]
