Japan scientists grow drugs in chicken eggs

Japanese researchers have genetically engineered hens whose eggs contain drugs that can

fight serious diseases including cancer, in a bid to dramatically reduce the cost of treatment, a

report said on Monday .

If the scientists are able to safely produce “interferon beta“, a type of protein used to treat

illnesses including multiple sclerosis and hepatitis, by rearing the hens, the price of the drug -

currently up to 100,000 yen (approx. Rs 58,000) for a few microgrammes -could fall

significantly , said the English edition of the `Yomiuri Shimbun'.

Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

in the Kansai region kicked off the process by introducing genes that produce interferon beta

into cells that are precursors of chicken sperm, the newspaper reported.

They then used these cells to fertilise eggs and create hens that inherited those genes,

meaning the birds were able to lay eggs containing the disease fighting agent.

The scientists now have three hens whose eggs contain the drug, with the birds laying eggs

almost daily , the report said. The researchers plan to sell the drug to pharmaceutical

companies, halving its price, so the firms can use it first as a research material, the newspaper

said. Consumers may have to wait a while, as Japan has strict regulations concerning the

introduction of new or foreign pharmaceutical products, with screening processes that

routinely take years to complete. But the team hopes that the technological breakthrough will

eventually help drive down the cost of the drug to 10% of its current price, the newspaper

reported. Officials at the institute could not be reached for comment.

 

 

Source: The Times of India