Marketed recombinant proteins cytokines

The biotechnology industry has evolved significantly since the introduction in 1982 of human insulin synthesized in Escherichia coli—the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved recombinant therapeutic agent in the United States. Since then, over 75 other recombinant proteins have been introduced. The list is comprised of cytokines, hormones, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines. There are more than 1100 companies competing for this market, and the current sale of these products comprises approximately 10% of the sales of all therapeutic products sold in the United States. One such product, erythropoietin, an erythropoiesis-stimulating factor also known... 

Protein therapeutics are expected to increase at a compound growth rate in excess of 12%, reaching over US75.8 billion by 2012. Currently, sales for the generics market is in the region of US5 billion, as patents for older recombinant cytokines expire. 

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