Human milk-derived lactoferrin

Researchers (Nuijens et al., 1997) at the Leiden University (the Netherlands) in collaboration with Pharming, NV (Leiden, the Netherlands) compared recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) expressed in the milk of transgenic mice with natural human milk-derived lactoferrin (hLF). They concluded that the unsaturated rhLF and natural hLF had comparable properties, indicating that hLF produced in bovine milk will exert similar, if not identical, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities in vivo. Pharming also developed the first transgenic bull in the late... 

Phase I studies conducted by Pharming indicated that cows milk-derived recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) is well tolerated at high doses. Volunteers were injected intravenously with rhLF without negative side effects. An oral biodistribution study in human volunteers has shown that natural and recombinant hLF behave in a similar fashion in the digestive tract. 

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