Re: Fibrinogen
Pharming’s FDA Orphan Drug designation for fibrinogen covers hereditary and acquired fibrinogen deficiency. However, the main commercial use of fibrinogen is in hemostasis kits consisting of fibrinogen and thrombin that are used to control surgical bleeding. This is a much larger market than hereditary and acquired fibrinogen deficiency and is one where Pharming’s Orphan Drug designation does not apply.
Pharming produces fibrinogen from transgenic cows. Pharming’s IP fibrinogen-related IP includes ownership of a 2007 US patent (7,211,650) on the purification of fibrinogen from milk and access to a 1997 US patent (5,639,940) on the transgenic production of fibrinogen that was originally owned by PPL and ZGEN.
ProGenetics has licensed the 2006 Velander patent (6,984,772) on transgenic production of fibrinogen, which is based on newer technology than the 5,639,940 patent and probably provides a way to work around that patent. To my knowledge, ProGenetics and GTC have not yet determined what kind of mammal to use for fibrinogen production, although ProGenetics’ know-how appears to be in transgenic pigs.
Caution: I am not a patent expert so the above should by no means be taken as the gospel!
“The efficient-market hypothesis may be
the foremost piece of B.S. ever promulgated
in any area of human knowledge!”
