Wuhan-based Healthgen Biotechnology has achieved a breakthrough in biotechnology by successfully developing a method to synthesize human serum albumin (HSA) from genetically engineered rice. The company's innovative product has completed Phase III clinical trials and has now entered the new drug approval process, marking a significant milestone in addressing China's critical shortage of this essential blood protein.
Innovative Plant-Based Manufacturing Process
Through advanced genetic engineering technology, Healthgen has transformed rice into a biological factory for producing HSA. According to reports from CCTV News, just 50 pounds of genetically modified rice can yield an amount of HSA equivalent to that extracted from 5 liters of human plasma. This represents a remarkable efficiency in production compared to traditional methods.
The technology leverages the natural process of photosynthesis, allowing plants to continuously produce the desired protein using only water, nutrients, and sunlight. This approach offers multiple advantages over conventional plasma extraction, including enhanced safety profiles, environmental sustainability, scalable production capacity, and potentially lower production costs.
Production Scale and Commercialization Progress
Healthgen Biotechnology has made substantial progress in scaling up production of its rice-derived HSA. The company has already constructed an intelligent manufacturing facility with an annual production capacity of 1 million injections. Furthermore, it is in the process of building a larger production base that will be capable of producing 12 million injections annually when completed.
This rapid expansion in production capacity demonstrates the commercial viability of the technology and its potential to significantly impact the HSA market in China.
Addressing a Critical Medical Need
HSA is a vital therapeutic protein widely used in clinical settings to treat various conditions including blood loss, hypoalbuminemia, and liver cirrhosis. Yang Daichang, Chairman and General Manager of Healthgen Biotechnology, highlighted the critical nature of this product in patient care.
"For patients with severe liver cirrhosis, a weekly dose of 4 to 5 bottles of HSA is required," Yang explained. Currently, traditional plasma-derived albumin costs between 400 to 500 yuan ($55 to $69) per bottle, creating a significant financial burden for patients requiring ongoing treatment.
Market Impact and Supply Challenges
China's annual demand for HSA is estimated at approximately 1,500 to 1,800 tons. Currently, all HSA used in China is sourced from plasma extraction. Due to limited domestic plasma supply, the country has long relied heavily on imports to meet demand.
The plant-based manufacturing approach developed by Healthgen could potentially transform this supply dynamic. As Yang noted, "As our technology achieves industrialization and gradually scales up production, it will effectively reduce costs and meet patients' medication needs."
Future Implications
The successful development of this technology represents not only a scientific achievement but also establishes a complete industrial chain for plant-based pharmaceutical manufacturing in China. If approved and widely implemented, this approach could significantly reduce China's dependence on imported HSA while potentially lowering treatment costs for patients.
The technology may also serve as a model for developing other recombinant proteins using plant-based expression systems, potentially opening new avenues for pharmaceutical production beyond HSA.
