Recombinant (or genetically engineered) protein expression systems are used to produce large quantities of highly purified human proteins for clinical use. The yield of purified protein that a commercial production system is capable of producing is largely determined by the quality of the cell line used. A cell line is essentially a genetically engineered population […]
Products
Thrombopoietin
Dragon is developing an engineered version of the naturally occurring human protein thrombopoietin, TPO. This protein is produced mainly by the liver and stimulates the production of blood platelets and bone marrow platelet progenitor (!!±pre-platelet!!L) cells. Platelets are critical to blood clotting and wound healing, and are often diminished in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy, or […]
Human Insulin
Dragon is developing an engineered version of insulin, a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin is critical for regulating the level of glucose in the blood and, since glucose is the primary energy source for the body, is essential for normal metabolism. A defect in insulin production, or an abnormal response to insulin, […]
Slow-Release EPO*
Industry analysts estimate the market for slow-release EPO at $5 billion per year, with application in the treatment of anemia in patients with kidney failure and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. In June 2000, Dragon acquired rights to a novel and patentable formulation for slow-release EPO by entering into a co-development agreement with Renapharm AB of […]
EPO
Our lead product, epoetin alpha injection (EPO), is an engineered form of a human protein, erythropoietin. This protein is naturally produced by the kidneys and stimulates the growth of red blood cells. When red blood cell counts are low, patients develop anemia which may require multiple blood transfusions and, in some cases, can lead to […]
G-CSF
Dragon is developing an engineered version of the naturally occurring granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, G-CSF. This human protein stimulates the bone marrow to produce neutrophils, a type of white blood cell or leukocyte. White blood cells help the body fight infection and disease and, when these cells are reduced in number (leukopenia), susceptibility to infection increases […]
