Federal officials have approved a drug that comes from goats whose DNA was genetically modified to secrete the compound in their milk. The drug is needed by patients with a rare blood disorder and may be the tip of the iceberg of a future where animals become drug factories. About one in 5,000 Americans have antithrombin deficiency for which this particular drug is made. ATryn stops the clotting process in those patients who are at high risk during surgeries and childbirth. The goats supposedly are not harmed in any way in this technique but as this method becomes more popular there is sure to be an ethical debate that comes with it. It is amazing what science can do. When asked how she felt about using drugs from the milk of goats, one patient who recently received the medication responded, "Not baaaaaaaad".
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