GTC Biotherapeutics (fka GTCB)

[choguy]

Better expression system?
I've been a long time lurker, GTC stockholder (should have sold at 50) and fan of their technology platform. However, I've come across a competing expression platorm that looks to me like it will steal GTC's lunch money. I'd be very interested to hear what the knowledgeable folks on this board think.
Crucell and DSM have formed a center of excellence called Percivia to develop the capability of a human cell line called Per.C6 to serve as an alternative mammalian cell line to express recombinant proteins. As the press release in this link shows, they have achieved 15gm/L. http://www.dsm.com/en_US/html/dpp/news_items/031108_Perc6_Technology_Milestone.htm
I've heard recently they've even gone over 20gm/L but I can't find a link online.
Given this level of expression, there is no longer the need for the classic 10K liter stainless steel reactor to produce kilos of drug. It can now readily be achieved in the 500-1000L disposable bioreactors currently marketed by HyClone or Xcellerex.
So in my mind the two major attractions of the transgenic platform, high expression and greatly reduced capital expenditures have been vaporized. Anybody see any flaws in my logic?