FDA approves for sale drug made in DNA-modified goats' milk

Federal officials on Friday approved for the first time the sale of a drug made in animals genetically modified to secrete the compound in their milk. The drug comes from goats whose DNA was altered to produce a drug needed by patients with a rare blood disorder.

By Shankar Vedantam

WASHINGTON — Federal officials Friday approved for the first time the sale of a drug made in animals genetically modified to secrete the compound in their milk.

The drug comes from goats whose DNA was altered to produce a drug for patients with a rare blood disorder.

Using animals as factories to produce medications needed by humans has been a long-standing goal. Federal officials emphasized that the technique has vast potential for patients and can be carried out without harm to the animals.

The drug approved Friday by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ATryn, is used to untangle blood clots in patients who lack sufficient quantities of antithrombin, a protein that acts as a natural blood thinner. Patients with hereditary antithrombin deficiency are at high risk during surgeries and childbirth, and the drug would be given in hospital settings. About one in 5,000 Americans has the disorder.

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