PUBLICATION BY MATTHIAS MAGOOLA, CHEMIST
Abstract
Recombinant technology has been around for nearly three-quarters of a century and has revolutionized protein therapy.
However, the cost of developing recombinant therapeutic proteins and the required manufacturing infrastructure continue to make these treatments unaffordable for most patients. Proteins are naturally produced in the body via messenger RNA (mRNA) translation.
This process can be replicated by administering a chemical nucleic acid product, allowing the body to manufacture the same protein recombinantly. Additionally, advancements in ex vivo protein production using cell-free systems present a lower-cost alternative for producing therapeutic proteins.
This article explores and compares alternative methods for recombinant protein production, evaluating their advantages and limitations. While developers and regulatory agencies may face challenges, including product approval complexities and intellectual property issues, these technologies are now proven and represent the most logical solution to making therapeutic proteins more accessible to patients worldwide.
