t-PA

So when, in 1987, researchers slipped a human gene into mice so that they produced a human protein in their milk, "molecular pharmers" saw their chance: Researchers at Tufts and the Genzyme Corp. of Cambridge, Mass., engineered goats to produce tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), a protein that dissolves blood clots and extends the lives of cardiac patients.

Barnyard Bioengineers 2008

After breeding the female (the old-fashioned way) to induce lactation, researchers isolated and purified t-PA from her milk.

Barnyard Bioengineers 2008

GONE FARMINGGiving animals human DNA is becoming routine. 1Human gene for t-PA is spliced into DNA that is activated during lactation, then injected into goat egg. 2Some of the eggs implanted into surrogate nannies develop into kids that carry the t-PA gene. 3After mating, the carrier produces human t-PA during lactation. t-PA is then isolated from milk and purified.

Barnyard Bioengineers 2008

The scientists injected human genes for t-PA into fertilized goat eggs (diagram) and implanted the hybrids into surrogate mothers.

Barnyard Bioengineers 2008

One goat produces up to three grams of t-PA per liter of milk.

Barnyard Bioengineers 2008

Biotech firm Genentech, which makes a prescription-drug version of human t-PA in huge fermentation vats, charges $2,200 for a. 1-gram dose, partly to recover research costs.

Barnyard Bioengineers 2008

Prescription drugs that contain coumadin (warfarin), Ticlopidine, Heparin and t-PA are classified as anticoagulants.

Prescription Blood Thinners And Possible Problems 2007

Heparin and t-PA are generally only used in emergency situations.

Prescription Blood Thinners And Possible Problems 2007

Ischemic strokes, the most common type of strokes, can be treated with a drug called t-PA, that dissolves blood clots obstructing blood flow to the brain.

"There isn't a thing that's changed." Ann Althouse 2006

Reductions in stroke damage by as much as 30 percent are now common practice through the administration of clot-busting recombinant drugs such as t-PA within three hours of a stroke.

The Best Alternative Medicine Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier 2000