Poultry provide one of the most efficient and cost-effective means of producing therapeutic proteins.

An egg contains 6 grams of sterile protein conveniently packaged.

The ability to grow large numbers of chickens relatively cheaply under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) conditions, combined with their short generation time and the relative ease and quality of proteins isolated from egg white, makes transgenic chickens an ideal organism for the cost competitive production of protein pharmaceuticals. Origen has demonstrated the utility of the system for the production of therapeutic human monoclonal antibodies that have enhanced cell killing properties.

Origen’s proprietary technology can also be used to manufacture blood proteins such as clotting factors, as well as many other important therapeutics that are entering the “biosimilars” market. By targeting the oviduct’s prodigious capabilities for protein production, recombinant proteins can potentially be made for a small fraction of the cost of cell culture systems.

Monoclonal Antibodies

As an initial focus and as a unique product opportunity, Origen has centered its efforts on the production of monoclonal antibodies for clients (see Nature Biotechnology 23, 1159-1169). Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies can potentially be produced quickly and less expensively from chicken eggs than from other production systems.

In addition Origen scientists, in collaboration with scientists at Medarex, have shown that these antibodies are fucose free and display 10-100 fold greater cell killing ability (ADCC) and are thus expected to be more effective. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies from chicken egg white are expected to be less immunogenic because their glycosylation is very similar to that of human proteins and the product is not degraded in the protease-free egg white environment.