Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

> [Talecris] …we have stumbled onto another question. If we can determine how inefficient traditional methods are, then we will know the upper limit for increases in yield from human plasma.<

Putting aside for the moment the question of advances in extraction technology, we can say that extraction of proteins from plasma is a competitive process where companies such as Talecris tune the fractionation to favor the output of one protein at the expense of another. Hence, the economic value of a given protein in the marketplace will in large part determine its supply.

In any event, plasma-derived proteins will continue to saddle recipients with the risk of infection, which is a risk that can be avoided by using a recombinant protein source.