Subject: Baxter Unit Tests Drug To Clot Blood on Humans
Date: Published: 3/31/87 39 lines
Source:  Wall Street Journal.  Copyright Dow Jones & Co. Inc. 

   Baxter Unit Tests Drug
   To Clot Blood on Humans

   DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Baxter Travenol Laboratories Inc. said
its Hyland Therapeutics unit has begun the first human
clinical trials with genetically engineered factor VIII, a
blood-clotting drug hemophiliacs need.
   Factor VIII, considered the largest and most complex
molecule ever made with gene-splicing technology, now is
extracted from human blood for use by hemophiliacs.  Because
of occasional contamination of blood supplies with acquired
immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, and other viruses,
hemophiliacs risk viral infections from use of factor VIII
from natural sources.  For that reason, demand for a synthetic
version of factor VIII is high.
   Two biotechnology companies, Cambridge, Mass.-based
Genetics Institute and South San Francisco, Calif.-based
Genentech Inc., independently and almost simultaneously
isolated the gene for factor VIII in 1984.  Baxter funded
development of the drug by Genetics Institute.  Genentech has
licensed its version of factor VIII to the Cutter Biologicals
division of Miles Laboratories Inc., a unit of Bayer AG of
West Germany.  A Genentech spokesman said Cutter hasn't yet
begun clinical trials with the drug.  Officials with Cutter
couldn't be reached for comment.
   Another company, Rorer Group Inc., Fort Washington, Pa.,
has developed a version of factor VIII extracted from human
blood with monoclonal antibodies, artificially produced
molecules designed to stick to specific substances.

(This article is made available here by Dow Jones Co. for the 
personal and non-commercial use of callers to this bbs, in the 
hope that it will be of some help to those who are suffering 
from the disease and others who are seeking to help them.)