While basic research has been primarily located on the East and West coasts, Iowa has the resources, infrastructure, and people to become the leader in the development of a potential new industry. Trans Ova Genetics, together with a Massachusetts firm, Genzyme Transgenics, has been working on the development of cows which have the ability to produce pharmaceuticals in their milk. For the past three years, this project has been under development in the Genetic Advancement Center. This center is a biosecure research and development campus located near Sioux Center. The first pharmaceutical protein in development is human serum albumin.
Serum albumin is the major blood protein of people.
Primary use is for replacement therapy for patients with liver and kidney disease, burn victims, and blood loss or volume replacement therapies. Currently this protein is purified from the human blood supply. Reduction in the risk of disease transmission and cost of production make alternative production strategies attractive. The dairy cow is a phenomenally efficient protein producer. In addition, the protein can be harvested in noninvasive means through traditional milking practices.