Within the framework of the Union State programmes “BelRosTransgen” and “BelRosTransgen-2” Belarusian and Russian scientists have jointly created the world's first flocks of transgenic goats-producers of recombinant human lactoferrin, as well as they have developed technology for obtaining highly purified target protein and investigated its biological properties. Commissioning the laboratory-experimental site for the extraction, purification and lyophilization of recombinant human lactoferrin from the milk of goats-producers is a logical continuation of the work in that direction. At the initial stage it is planned to release the target protein at least 5 kg per year, which will allow providing about 2000 people with domestic lactoferrin-containing dietary supplement.
Lactoferrin is a unique multifunctional protein that is present in the milk of humans and other mammals. Lactoferrin has promising biopharmaceutical properties: antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and regenerative. This protein is in demand for the production of dietary supplements, dietetic food, pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetic products. Global demand for lactoferrine reaches 90 tons per year. The cost for one gram of recombinant human protein is about 900 US dollars.