Sufficient quantity for effective treatment

Many biologicals with an essential function in the human body can only be found in or extracted from natural sources in minute quantities. As a result, one needed to process thousands of litres of body fluids to extract a tiny amount of a compound for laboratory analysis, or hundreds of organs to treat one patient. Yet, many of these compounds or their inhibitors play an important role in a variety of disorders, and their availability would open new avenues of therapy. Genetic engineering offers the opportunity to produce these biologicals in sufficient quantities to allow for laboratory research, clinical studies or new treatment options. Many biologicals with an essential function in the human body can only be found in or extracted from natural sources in minute quantities. As a result, one needed to process thousands of litres of body fluids to extract a tiny amount of a compound for laboratory analysis, or hundreds of organs to treat one patient. Yet, many of these compounds or their inhibitors play an important role in a variety of disorders, and their availability would open new avenues of therapy. Genetic engineering offers the opportunity to produce these biologicals in sufficient quantities to allow for laboratory research, clinical studies or new treatment options.