Our
commitment to biotechnology
Haematology
Over the years, we have built
up a strong presence in the field of
haematology, principally as a result
of the development of two major drugs:
epoetin alfa (marketed as EPREX™, PROCRIT™
or ERYPO™), which is used to treat various
types of anaemia, and LEUSTATIN™ (cladribine),
used in the treatment of hairy-cell
leukaemia. |
 |
 |
Anaemia
The development of human erythropoietin
to treat anaemia is the culmination
of a series of important events
in modern biotechnology. In 1979,
our parent company, Johnson &
Johnson, in association with McDonnell
Douglas and NASA, attempted to
manufacture proteins, including
erythropoietin, on board the space
shuttle. However, although the
experiment was a success, the
manufacture of erythropoietin
on a commercial scale proved not
to be economically feasible at
that time. |
|
|
Meanwhile, however, the techniques
of recombinant DNA technology were
being developed. In 1984, Johnson
& Johnson joined forces with Amgen,
a small biotechnology company still
in its start-up phase, which had developed
a way of producing a genetically engineered
version of human erythropoietin in
large quantities. The development
of EPREX™ (epoetin alfa)
heralded a breakthrough in the treatment
of patients with chronic renal failure:
previously the only available treatment
for chronic renal failure had been
blood transfusion, with its associated
risks.
Since then, staff in the R&D
laboratories at RWJPRI have been working
continuously to develop new therapeutic
uses for EPREX™. It is
currently the most widely used biotechnology
drug in the world, being applied in
the treatment of numerous patient
populations, including those suffering
from anaemia associated with chronic
renal failure, HIV infection and cancer.
Recently, yet another use was demonstrated:
it reduces the need for blood transfusions
in certain patients scheduled to undergo
surgery, without having to participate
in an autologous blood donation programme.
Diabetic
Foot Ulcers
REGRANEX™ is the first prescription
medicine to actively stimulate the body
to grow new tissue to heal these wounds.
The active ingredient in REGRANEX™
is becaplermin, a genetically-engineered
platelet-derived growth factor that
mimics a naturally occurring protein.
The growth factor stimulates the migration
of cells to the ulcer site, encouraging
the patient's body to grow new tissue
to heal these open wounds. Becaplermin
is produced by recombinant technology
in yeast cells and is not derived from
blood.
Good wound care practices, including
initial sharp debridement (removal
of dead tissue), daily dressing changes,
pressure relief and treatment of infection
if present, are required to achieve
the best results.
Do you want to know more about
our R&D expertise in this field?
Please explore http://www.eprex.nl/,
an Dutch Internet site completely
developed for patients suffering from
anaemia.
|
