It 's as good as a goat 's milk
Why is the production of a unique protein stalling
Genetic engineering and biotechnology are now revered as the science of the future, but in the Union State for many years they have not been able to establish the production of a unique protein lactoferrin, obtained from the milk of transgenic goats. But it could serve as a cure for coronavirus.
The idea to create a herd of transgenic goats that can give milk with the human protein lactoferrin belongs to Russian scientists. In 2002, the researchers prepared and agreed on an appropriate program and a year later received the first funding for their research.
Russian scientists chose Belarusian colleagues as partners, and in 2007, after a series of experiments, they received the first two transgenic individuals. As part of the next five-year program of the Union State, it was possible to create a herd of such useful and necessary animals for science and people. Why a unique multifunctional protein from goat milk was never produced on an industrial scale, Sputnik correspondent Stanislav Androsik understood.
Protein is one, but there are many benefits
"Lactoferrin is a powerful regulator of many physiological processes occurring in the human body. First of all, this protein is responsible for the formation of the child's immune system," said Alexander Budevich, Deputy Director General of the National Research Center for Animal Husbandry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
According to the Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, the unique protein has long been in the field of view of scientists and practitioners around the world and every two years becomes the subject of discussions at an international conference. Over the years of research, it has been found out that lactoferrin actively manifests itself against fungi, bacteria, viruses, has an effect on cancer cells, helps to release the reserves of the body.
All these discoveries prompted scientists to think that a multifunctional protein can not only benefit children, but also be useful in sports medicine, then it came to an understanding that it can serve as a basis for the production of both active additives and medicines.
According to the law – GMO
Now there is a whole herd of transgenic goats on the farm of the scientific and practical center in Zhodino, but for several years now, both in Belarus and in Russia, the solution to the problem of practical use of the results has been moving slowly.
Alexander Budevich states that all their long-term prospecting activities within the framework of the Union program have been significantly adjusted due to the unexpectedly changed legislation.
Scientists of the Union State began work on the third program in 2012 in order to enter the market with a ready-made product. At first it was called Belrospharm, then BelRosLact. Despite the fact that lactoferrin is a human protein, it belongs to those products that are obtained from genetically modified organisms.
"So, it automatically falls under some restrictions related to GMOs. Plus, Russia has adopted a law on genetically modified organisms that cannot be used for practical purposes, but only for scientific purposes. This all affected the continuation of work in the direction of the use of lactoferrin," the scientist admitted.
The paradox also lies in the fact that lactoferrin, isolated from the milk of transgenic goats, is a pure human protein, but its use as a biologically active additive is limited by legislation when creating products for feeding children, nursing mothers. In addition, it is a new product that requires the development of methods for its evaluation in the country and the conduct of separate examinations.
Alexander Budevich emphasized that so far in the world no one except scientists within the framework of the Union State has learned to obtain human lactoferrin from goat's milk in large quantities. Although competitors are not asleep, and attempts to create their own herd of cows capable of giving milk with human lactoferrin are being made by Argentina, Spain and, of course, China.
"The world is not standing still, and we may lag behind in the use of lactoferrin if we do not take appropriate measures," says the Deputy Director General of the National Research Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Animal Husbandry.
16 million in 10 years
According to him, now it is necessary to invest in the third union program, otherwise the entry into the market with the final product will be delayed indefinitely. In addition, without increasing the production of lactoferrin, this is impossible.
"It is necessary to conduct preclinical and clinical trials of products with lactoferrin, and it all costs money," the Candidate of Agricultural Sciences drew attention.
Now the herd of transgenic goats in Zhodino is 175 heads, part of the milk with a unique protein goes to feed the goats, the other part of the valuable raw materials is frozen and stored on the basis of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and then it is used for scientific purposes.
"At a temperature of minus 25 degrees, lactoferrin is preserved in milk. We can pick it up at any time, process it and isolate protein," Alexander Budevich said.
In his opinion, now, in addition to investments, it is necessary to amend the law on genetic engineering in Belarus in order to reach the final part of the implementation of the union program.
At the same time, the scientist gives an example that in order to get only one new pharmacological substance in the world, it takes an average of 15 years and 2-3 billion dollars.
"We have spent about $ 16 million over 10 years per two countries, we have received a new active substance, not a generic, which needs to be registered and put its production on an industrial basis," said the deputy Director General of the center.
COVID-19 and prospects
Currently, Russian scientists are offering Belarusian partners to use the developments obtained jointly to combat coronavirus infection.
"Including lactoferrin, and everyone has thought about it, perhaps a new project of the Union State will turn out," the Belarusian scientist suggested.
"After the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, research centers around the world showed the mechanisms of action of lactoferrin against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and presented the results in scientific publications, it was reported that in 2012, during the previous outbreak, the protein was also active against the MERS-CoV virus," Alexander Budevich assured.
Currently, some centers have switched to clinical trials of lactoferrin in sprays in combination with other drugs for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, because this protein helps to stop the effect of the virus.
In response to the logical question of what needs to be done to produce their own medicines with lactoferrin in the Union State, the scientist briefly replied: "We need a program, we need investments."
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