Is a recombinant protein product better?
The human body may produce antibodies when exposed to foreign proteins including recombinant proteins.23-25,27,28In fact, the incidence of clinically significant antibody production to recombinant proteins has been reported in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes receiving treatment with recombinant human insulin and in patients treated with recombinant interferon α-2a and interferon α-2b. 23-25,27,28 Adverse events associated with use of recombinant products, including recombinant thrombopoietin and erythropoietin, have also been reported in the literature.23-25,27,28 Postmarketing surveillance of recombinant products has demonstrated that caution must be taken regarding the long-term safety issues associated with the use of new recombinant human protein therapeutic drugs, as with any other new products.26,27 Product choice should be based on evaluation of overall clinical safety, efficacy, and history of clinical use rather than the origin of the product.
