Transgenic swine producing human hemoglobin data

DNXX announced it has bred genetically engineered swine that express 25 percent human hemoglobin, an amount that is adequate for commercial development. The amount expressed represents a 150 percent increase over previous levels and is the minimum necessary to produce a blood substitute at $5 per gram or less, DNXX said.

About half of the newborn swine possess and express the engineered gene. In the next generation of pigs, all animals are expected to produce the human hemoglobin. At present, fewer than 10 of the second-generation pigs have been born, but births are occurring every week. All second-generation transgenic swine are expressing the 25 percent level of hemoglobin, DNXX said. ...