China achieves large-scale production of human serum albumin from genetically engineered rice

A Wuhan-based biopharmaceutical company developed technology to synthesize human serum albumin (HSA) from rice, offering a potential solution to China's supply shortage of this critical blood protein. Products developed using this technology have completed clinical trials and entered the new drug approval process, marking significant progress in industrialization and commercialization while continuing to expand production scale, according to CCTV News on Saturday.

Through genetic engineering technology, the Healthgen Biotechnology in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei Province, transformed rice into "seeds" for producing HSA. 50 pounds kilograms of rice can yield an amount of HSA equivalent to that extracted from 5 liters of human plasma, CCTV introduced.

The rice-derived HSA product has completed Phase III clinical trials and entered the new drug approval process. The company has built an intelligent factory with an annual production capacity of 1 million injections and is constructing a large-scale production base capable of producing 12 million injections per year, reported CCTV.

The magic of plant-based manufacturing lies in photosynthesis. With just sufficient water, nutrients, and sunlight, plants can continuously produce desired substances. This method of producing HSA is not only safer and more environmentally friendly but also offers advantages like scalable production and low costs, potentially becoming a key solution to alleviate China's HSA supply shortage, CCTV reported.

Yang Daichang, Chairman and General Manager of the Healthgen Biotechnology, explained that HSA is widely used clinically to treat conditions like blood loss and liver cirrhosis. Statistics showed that China's annual demand for HSA is about 1,500 to 1,800 tons, all currently sourced from plasma extraction. Due to limited domestic plasma supply, China has long relied on imports, according to changjiangwang, a comprehensive news website affiliated with Changjiang Daily from July 2024.

"For patients with severe liver cirrhosis, a weekly dose of 4 to 5 bottles of HSA is required, with traditional plasma-derived albumin costing 400 to 500 yuan ($55 to $69) per bottle. As our technology achieves industrialization and gradually scales up production, it will effectively reduce costs and meet patients' medication needs," Yang said in the report.