Is there an alternative to plasma-derived factor?
Yes. Recombinant factor products are created by recombinant DNA technology with no use of human blood/plasma donors. During production, recombinant factor VIII is stabilized in human albumin, but the risk of human viral contamination is theoretically lower than for products that are solely plasma derived. In fact, no known cases of viral transmission have occured with the use of albumin since its introduction into the marketplace more than 50 years ago. Recombinant factor VIII products were first approved by the Food and Drug Administration early in 1993. One pharmaceutical company has recently licensed a recombinant factor VIII product that contains no human albumin as a stabilizer. However, albumin is used in the initial production step and then removed. Only trace amounts remain in the final formulation. This would eliminate the possibility of any viral exposure. In February 1997, the Food and Drug Administration licensed the first recombinant blood clotting therapy for factor IX de
