There are still many people around the world who do not have a vaccination protection against diphtheria. Therefore an antiserum is needed still being produced in horses. The use of purely human antibodies is better for the patients because horse proteins as production part of the antiserum can produce side effects (serum sickness).

Therefore, an international research consortium has been established. In the biotechnology division of the Technical University Braunschweig human antibodies against diphtheria are produced using the phage-display, whose co-inventor is Prof. Stefan Dübel (InVitro+Jobs reported). The human antibodies developed in Braunschweig will be produced completely in the bioreactor making the use of horses for the production of the drug obsolet worldwide.

Partner in this project is the animal protection organization PETA International Science Consortium Ltd. (PISC). PISC supports the project with 134,000 euros for three years.

Source and further information:
https://magazine.tu-braunschweig.de/pi-post/anti-diphtherie-wirkstoffe-zukuenftig-ohne-tierversuche/
http://www.invitrojobs.com/index.php/en/forschung-methoden/arbeitsgruppen/item/757-technische-universitaet-braunschweig-institut-fuer-biochemie-und-biotechnologie
http://www.invitrojobs.com/index.php/en/neuigkeiten/news-archiv/item/489-mass-tailor-made-for-animal experiments