One-quarter of the world’s pigs died in a year due to swine fever in China

Re:One-quarter of the world’s pigs died in a year due to swi... by philshem on Thursday January 02, 2020 @04:06PM (#21939821)

Are pigs still a source of pharmaceutical insulin?

Edit: > Insulin can be made from the pancreas of pigs or cows. Human versions can be made either by modifying pig versions or recombinant technology.

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Re:One-quarter of the world’s pigs died in a year due to swi... by sjg007 on Thursday January 02, 2020 @06:09PM (#21940967)

It’s made in a bioreactor these days using ecoli or yeast.

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Re:One-quarter of the world’s pigs died in a year due to swi... by galangalalgol on Thursday January 02, 2020 @06:11PM (#21940980)

They are still the source of some thyroid medications. The synthetics are preferred but not everyone responds well.

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Re:One-quarter of the world’s pigs died in a year due to swi... by hanniabu on Thursday January 02, 2020 @05:08PM (#21940462)

Interesting, I always thought it was a drug produced in a lab from other chemicals.

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Re:One-quarter of the world’s pigs died in a year due to swi... by khuey on Thursday January 02, 2020 @06:11PM (#21940981)

Insulin is an enormous and complex molecule. Biological syntheses (originally from animals, now from GMO bacteria) are preferred.

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Re:One-quarter of the world’s pigs died in a year due to swi... by lightedman on Thursday January 02, 2020 @05:20PM (#21940588)

It used to be horse-derived humulin.

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